DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night:
Medicine Hat Tigers @ Red Deer Rebels 7PM MST
When these two teams meet for the second time this season, it will continue a years long rivalry in the Central Division.
The Medicine Hat Tigers are one of just four teams to beat the Rebels in regulation this season back on October 24th. The Rebels are 8-1-0-0 since that lose and have moved into sole possession of first in the Central Division. The Tigers meanwhile have gone the other direction, and sit at 3-6-1-1 since October 24th and fourth in the Central.
Medicine Hat has not received as good of goaltending as they have in past seasons and they have not scored at the same clip as they have in the past either. The Tigers top scorer is James Hamblin, with 25 points in 25 games. This is good for 33rd overall. The team is not getting production from the blueliners as they have in years past either, Linus Nassen leads the team with 18 points but the next best dman has just seven points
For the Rebels, the team is getting production from all three positions. Ethan Anders has a 14-4-0-1 record, 2.82 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. Brandon Hagel is sixth in WHL scoring with 39 points in 21 games. Alexander Alexeyev is second in defenseman scoring with 28 points in 22 games.
The Tigers are going to need to get under the Rebels skin if they want to have a chance at beating the high powered Rebels offense. Keeping their penalty killers on the ice as much as possible and creating chances in the Rebels end must be of the highest priority. Red Deer needs to stay out of the box and allow their top line of Reese Johnson, Brandon Hagel and Jeff de Wit play quality minutes.
Fanshaw’s Fast Facts:
- Red Deer is 8-2-0-0 in their last 10, riding a five game winning streak.
- Mads Soogard (Medicine Hat) has posted a .950 SV% in his last three starts
- 20-year-old, Reece Johnson (RD) has eight points in his last four games
Leading Scorers:
James Hamblin-MH- (9G, 16A) Only has one point in his last five, held pointless in his last two
Brandon Hagel- RD- (15G, 24A) Has points in five straight games
Who’s expected in goal:
Mads Sogaard- MH- (2.452 GAA, .930 SV%) Last start, stopped 48 shots vs. SC for his first WHL Career Shutout
Ethan Anders- RD- (2.817 GAA, .920 SV%) Has claimed the win in his last four starts
RECORD WATCH:
Tonight’s potential record breaking game is one of 10 games on tap for Saturday night in the WHL. Prince Albert has the chance to rewrite their record books with a win tonight, breaking the Raiders ‘Franchise Win Streak’ total. Prior to puck drop, the Raiders have won 15 games in a row, with a win they would leap over the 1985-86 Raiders who won 15 games in a row. The Raiders have the best record in the entire CHL, only having lost one game so far in 2018-19 at (22-1-0-0).
It isn’t just the team looking to put their mark in history either, Brett Leason has tied the ‘WHL point streak total to start a season’ with at least one point in all 23 games for the Raiders. Leason, originally drafted by Tri-City in the third round of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft has been a great addition since being traded to the prairie team. Since being dealt last season, Leason has 83 points in 77 games. Before donning the black and green, Leason had only managed 19 points in 81 games, so you could say Prince Albert won this trade only giving up a third round pick in 2018, for the WHL points leader so far in 2018-19. This could be just the first of many record to fall Leason’s way if he continues to light up the ice through the whole season.
Other Saturday Night WHL Action:
Lethbridge Hurricanes (11-8-2-2) @ Moose Jaw Warriors (11-5-3-1)
- Lethbridge has put up 92 goals already this season in 23 games, that’s an average of four goals per game.
Edmonton Oil Kings (14-8-2-2) @ Swift Current Broncos (3-18-1-1)
- Swift Current has not scored in it’s last 160 minutes of hockey.
Prince Albert Raiders (22-1-0-0) @ Kootenay Ice (7-15-3-1)
- Prince Albert could break two records tonight in Cranbrook. Ice look to get back on the winning track, 0-3-1-0 in their last four
Seattle Thunderbirds (8-11-3-0) @ Portland Winterhawks (13-8-0-2)
- Both teams have allowed nine goals over their last two games
Saskatoon Blades (14-8-2-0) @ Prince George Cougars (10-10-1-2)
- Expected starter Taylor Gauthier (PG) has allowed 13 goals over his last four games
Kamloops Blazers (9-10-1-1) @ Spokane Chiefs (12-8-1-2)
- Spokane enters one point back of Portland for 2nd in the US Division
Calgary Hitmen (10-13-2-0) @ Tri-City Americans (12-8-0-0)
- Both teams 6-4-0-0 over their last 10
Victoria Royals (12-7-0-0) @ Vancouver Giants (15-6-2-0)
- Victoria beat Vancouver at home on Nov. 18th in their last meeting by a 3-1 score
Kelowna Rockets (11-13-1-0) @ Everett Silvertips (17-7-1-0)
- First meeting of the season between the two clubs, Everett holds a (7-3-1-0) home record so far in 2018-19
