By Ryan Plysiuk

GAME NOTES: Tigers and ‘Canes battle in playoffs for first time in 26 years

Apr 7, 2017 | 11:27 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Tonight the Tigers and Hurricanes will open their Round 2 playoff series with Game 1 at the Canalta Centre. The Hurricanes were awarded the opportunity to play the Tigers with a Game 7 victory on Tuesday night over Red Deer, marking the first time the Canes have advanced to the 2nd Round since 2008-2009. For Medicine Hat this is their 7th time in the past 8 seasons they have reached the Conference semi-finals.

BY THE NUMBERS – MEDICINE HAT TIGERS

2016-17 WHL RANKINGS:

OVERALL: (51-20-1-0)

Medicine Hat skateboarders humanitarian efforts in Mexico to hit the big screen

A few moments ago

Young minds, big ideas: Elementary students learn about urban planning with 'Box City'

22h ago

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

HOME: 25-9-1-0

AWAY: 25-11-0-0

2017 PLAYOFFS

BEST OF 7 SERIES TIED 0-0

INJURY UPDATES:

NONE

Man Games Lost to Injury: 90

16-17 SEASON SERIES VS. CANES

OVERALL: 4-3-0-0

HOME: 3-1-0-0

AWAY: 1-2-0-0

LAST 5 SEASONS: 17-11-1-0

LAST WIN: Mar. 18, 2017 – 8-7

2017 PLAYOFF LEADERS:

GOALS: MARK RASSELL (4)

ASSISTS: DAVID QUENNEVILLE (6)

POINTS: DAVID QUENNEVILLE (9)

PIM: MASON SHAW (12)

PLUS MINUS: SCHULTZ, OWRE, BUTCHER (+6)

WINS: MICHAEL BULLION (4)

16-17 SEASON CLUB COMPARISON:

TONIGHT’S MATCH UP:

John Dahlstrom is on a 4 game point streak this post season having recorded a point in every game so far and scoring 3 times
Ty Schultz came back from long term injury in Game 2 vs. Brandon and is riding a 3 game assist streak heading into the second round
David Quenneville is on a 7 game point streak dating back to the regular season. In the playoffs Quenneville leads the Tigers in scoring with 9 points
Chad Butcher is also on a 7 game point streak dating back to the regular season, in that span Butcher has recorded 4 multi-point games
Michael Bullion has won 7 of his last 9 appearances including stopping 32 saves March 17th in Lethbridge in a 5-1 victory

TIGERS FAST FACTS:

Since 2002 the Tigers have reached the 2nd Round of the playoffs in all but 2 seasons (13 of 15 years, 87%)
The Tigers come into tonight having won 6 straight games dating back to the last weekend of the season

Lethbridge has scored the most goals in the post season of all qualified teams, netting 28 goals in 7 games (4 goals a game)

POWERING UP: The Tigers power play has been electric over the past few weeks, in 8 games dating back to the regular season, the Tigers have managed to score 18 times on the man advantage in 43 opportunities (41.8%). Medicine Hat is 14/34 (41.2%) against Lethbridge this season

26 YEARS IN THE MAKING: Despite playing 7 games during the regular season the Hurricanes franchise and the Tigers have only met once in the post season. Going all the way back to the 1990-91 season, the Tigers were led by Kevin Riehl and Jason Miller with Lethbridge led by Jason Ruff. In that series the Canes would defeat the Tigers in 7 games.

THIS DATE IN PLAYOFF HISTORY: The Tigers on this day in 2007 opened their 2nd Round series with the Regina Pats. Medicine Hat outshot the Pats 38 to 23 overall in the game but found themselves trailing after 20 minutes. A strong push in the second period had goals from Brennan Bosch and Tyler Ennis. The Tigers would put the game away in the third period as Ennis scored his 2nd of the night while Kevin Undershute provided the insurance goal. Ennis was named the game’s first star with a 3 point performance in a 4-1 victory.

WHO TO WATCH: Tigers – Tigers 4th Line: Ryan Jevne has the only goal of the trio on this line, but the Tigers ‘kids line’ was electric in their opening series with Brandon. Watch for them to bring lots of speed and energy to the Tigers in this series. Hurricanes – Tyler Wong: A high end player in the Western Hockey League, Wong drives the entire Lethbridge offense. During the season he recorded 109 points and notched 10 points in 7 playoff games so far.

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