By Ryan Plysuik

GAME NOTES: Tigers and Wheat Kings ring in Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals

Mar 24, 2017 | 12:11 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Tonight marks the first ever playoff game at the Canalta Centre as Medicine Hat takes on the defending Champion Brandon Wheat Kings. The Tigers won the season series vs. Brandon sporting a 3-1-0-0 record and winning the last 2 at home, including a 4-0 shutout Feb. 25th. Brandon dropped 3 of their last 4 games to end the season, being outscored by Regina 13-1 in their home and home set in the final weekend of the year.

BY THE NUMBERS – MEDICINE HAT TIGERS

2016-17 WHL RANKINGS:

OVERALL: (51-20-1-0)

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HOME: 25-9-1-0

AWAY: 25-11-0-0

2017 PLAYOFFS

SERIES TIED 0-0

INJURY UPDATES:

SCHULTZ – Lower Body

RUBINS – Upper Body

Man Games Lost to Injury: 89

16-17 SEASON SERIES VS. WHEAT KINGS

OVERALL: 3-1-0-0

HOME: 2-0-0-0

AWAY: 1-1-0-0

LAST 5 SEASONS: 7-8-0-1

LAST WIN: Feb. 25, 2017 – 4-0

2016-17 CLUB LEADERS:

GOALS: MARK RASSELL (36)

ASSISTS: CHAD BUTCHER (76)

POINTS: CHAD BUTCHER (103)

PIM: ZACH FISCHER (145)

PLUS MINUS: CLAYTON KIRICHENKO (+50)

WINS: NICK SCHNEIDER (32)

16-17 CLUB COMPARISON:

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP:

Medicine Hat won 50+ games on the season for the first time since the 2006-07 season and the 4th time in franchise history

Medicine Hat was the only team in the WHL who recorded 25+ wins on the road and at home

Brandon sported the Eastern Conference’s 2nd lowest win total on the road this season and 3rd lowest in the league. Brandon had a record of 9-21-3-3 on the year

Brandon is 1-7-1-1 in their past 10 road games to finish the regular season

TIGERS FAST FACTS:

Brandon is just the third team since 1999 to have a point differential of more than 30 after winning the WHL Championship the season before (Brandon 15-16 – 102 points/16-17 – 72 points)

Calgary Hitmen in 2009-10 (Champions) to 2010-11 – 62 points
Portland Winterhawks in 1997-98 (Champions) to 1998-99 – 52 pts

Only 4 other Tiger players since the 1996-97 season have reached a +40 rating or higher in one season, currently Clayton Kirichenko has a rating of +50

Kirichenko has 50 assists on the year. The last time 50 assists was recorded by a defenseman was David Schlemko during the 2006-07 season
Kirichenko is also just the 10th defenseman in franchise history to record 50 or more assists in one season

DID YOU KNOW?: Of the Tigers 24 rostered players for the post season, 15 of them have not seen playoff action in their careers. Meanwhile on Brandon’s roster they are complete opposites sporting14 players with post season experience

IMPORT RECORD: Tigers forward John Dahlstrom writes his name in the Tigers franchise record books this season. With his 30 goals on the year, Dahlstrom is the 1st import player to score 30 or more goals in one season.

WHO TO WATCH: Tigers – Chad Butcher: Fresh off his first career WHL All-Star selection, Butcher will look to continue his career best season into the post season. Wheat Kings – Nolan Patrick– Whenever a potential 1st overall pick in the NHL comes to town, people take notice and it will be the same the entire playoff series. Patrick recorded 46 points in 33 games this season

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: The Tigers took on the Red Deer Rebels in their 1st Round series of the 2007 Playoffs. Medicine Hat dropped the opening game to the Rebels but bounced back with a dominating game. Holding Red Deer to only 20 shots on the night, Medicine Hat got three first period goals from Tyler Ennis, who scored a pair and Daine Todd. Colton Grant and Darren Helm would also add markers in the third period as Medicine Hat outshot Red Deer 35 to 20 on route to their first victory of the post season and evening the series at 1.

NHL DRAFTED / SIGNED PLAYERS: Matt Bradley (Montreal Canadiens), Nick Schneider (Calgary Flames), John Dahlstrom (Chicago Blackhawks), David Quenneville (New York Islanders)