By Ryan Plysuik

Tigers versus Wheat Kings game 2 preview

Mar 25, 2017 | 12:16 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB —Tonight the Tigers and Wheat Kings battle it out in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Quarter Finals. Medicine Hat drew first blood last night with a dominating performance, outlasting the Wheaties with a 7-2 score. Michael Bullion and Clayton Kirichenko were part of 12 Tigers players who suited up in their first career playoff game.

BY THE NUMBERS

MARCH 25th, 2017

2016-17 WHL RANKINGS:

OVERALL: (51-20-1-0)

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

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HOME: 25-9-1-0

AWAY: 25-11-0-0

2017 PLAYOFFS

TIGERS LEAD BEST OF 7 SERIES 1-0

INJURY UPDATES:

SCHULTZ – Lower Body

Man Games Lost to Injury: 90

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

2017 PLAYOFF LEADERS:

GOALS: MARK RASSELL (3)

ASSISTS: DAVID QUENNEVILLE (3)

POINTS: RASSELL, QUENNEVILLE, KIRICHENKO (3)

PIM: RUBINS, SHAW (4)

PLUS MINUS: KIRICHENKO, RUBINS, GERLACH (+2)

WINS: MICHAEL BULLION (1)

LAST NIGHT’S GAME AT A GLANCE:

Mark Rassell scored his first career playoff goal and capped off the night recording a hat trick, continuing his scoring prowess from the regular season where he lead the Tabbies with 36 markers
Michael Bullion allowed 2 goals on 28 shots, while the Tigers put 52 shots on goal towards Brandon’s Logan Thompson
Tigers captain Clayton Kirichenko recorded a 3 point night, including his first ever playoff goal
Dylan MacPherson recorded his first career playoff point on an assist on the Rassell hat trick goal

TIGERS FAST FACTS:

Compared to last season’s post season run for Brandon, out of their 5 losses on their road to the Cup, the Wheaties gave up more than 5 goals just 3 times (all losses)
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

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 sporting 14 players with post season experience.

POWER STRENGTH: The Tigers power play has been electric over their past few weeks leading to the post season. Friday night was no different, with 4 power play markers to their name; Medicine Hat is 9/31 against Brandon this season (29%)

GOIN’ STREAKING: There are several Tiger players riding point streaks heading into tonight’s game:

5 games – Clayton Kirichenko(10 points)/Max Gerlach (7 points)
4 games – Chad Butcher (8 points)/David Quenneville (6 points)/Zach Fischer (7 points)
3 games – Mark Rassell (6 points)

WHO TO WATCH: Tigers – Clayton Kirichenko: Currently riding a 5 game point streak, Kirichenko continues his career season with physicaly play and an offensive game, Kirichenko is slowly becoming a d-man to watch. Wheat Kings – Tanner Kaspick– A thorn in the Tigers side last night, Kaspick has lots of offensive flare, anchoring the Wheaties second line.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: During the 2009 post season the Tigers hosted Game 4 against the Swift Current Broncos. The Tigers found themselves in an early hole but 3 unanswered goals from Bretton Cameron (1) and a pair from Tyler Ennis (5, 6) got the Tabbies back in the game. Ennis would record a hat trick in the second period for his 7th goal of the post season in just 4 games. Cameron added his second of the night later in the third as the Tigers tied the series at 2 games apiece heading back to Swift Current 2 days later.

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