If the Medicine Hat Tigers feel like someone’s chasing them, it’s for good reason.
The Calgary Hitmen are breathing down the Central Division leader’s neck by winning nine out of their past 10 games, including a 2-1 win in Medicine Hat on Saturday. The Hitmen jumped out to a two-goal lead and managed to hold off the Tigers thanks to goalie Brendan Burke’s 44 saves. The Hitmen’s hot streak has pulled them within six points of the Tigers for top spot.
The two teams meet again in Calgary on Tuesday, giving the Hitmen another opportunity to draw even closer. With the way things have been going, the game might be bigger for the limping Tigers. Medicine Hat has only won three of its past 10 games and is missing some key parts due to injury. The Tigers played Saturday without defencemen Tommy Vannelli and Kyle Becker and Saturday’s game marked the return of forward Steven Owre. Vannelli is still expected out for some time and will be missed on the Medicine Hat blueline. Calgary is hitting on all cylinders at the moment, becoming the stingiest team in the East, while only the high-powered Brandon Wheat Kings have potted more goals.
Tuesday’s game is the last time these two teams will meet during the regular season, so the points up for grabs are big. Looking ahead, the Hitmen will hit the road and make their swing through the U.S. Division and Western Conference. That sometimes can be trouble for the teams in the East, making Tuesday’s game that much more crucial. The Tigers will stay in the East after Tuesday’s game but do have Brandon one more time. Overall however, Medicine Hat has the easier schedule down the stretch.
Wheat Kings on fire
The Brandon Wheat Kings were the first WHL club to lock up a playoff spot and are peaking at the right time. Winners of eight of their past 10, the Wheat Kings have picked up points in 16 straight games and are 25 big points clear of second place Regina in the Eastern Division. They feature five guys averaging a point-per-game, led by Tim McGauley’s 80 points and his current 14-game point streak (nine goals and 30 points). The Morgan Klimchuk trade has worked out well for Brandon as the Calgary Flames prospect has 24 points in 19 games with the Wheat Kings. While with Regina, he had 30 points in 27 games. Brandon Wheat Kings on Twitter
The big question that remains is if the Wheat Kings are built for the playoffs. They have goal-scoring and goalie Jordan Papirny has had a strong season in net, so they appear ready. But will they have the grit to take on a more physical team like Medicine Hat or Calgary when the time comes? Stay tuned.
West playoff picture coming into focus
There is less drama in the West than there was just a week ago. Kelowna and Victoria will be the top two seeds in the B.C. Division and it now looks like it will be Everett, Portland and Seattle—in that order—in the U.S. Division.
The only real question is which struggling B.C. team will limp its way into the last spot. There is also potential one will catch the stumbling Tri City Americans, who seemed like a lock to make the playoffs just a couple weeks ago. They lead Kamloops by only five points and could be in danger of losing the last wild-card slot.
Speaking of the Americans, what happened to Eric Comrie this past weekend? With backup Evan Sarthou injured, Comrie went the distance in both games and the Americans were pasted. Comrie gave up 13 goals and has lost six of his past eight starts.
One of the most intriguing potential first-round playoff matchups in the entire league is Portland and Seattle. The Winterhawks and Thunderbirds are part of the best rivalry in the WHL and the two have not met in the post-season since 2006 when Portland bested Seattle in seven games. Let’s hope we get seven more this year.
Best in the West
After taking a year off, the Tri City Herald’s “Best in the West” survey returned this week. Conducted by Tri City Americans beat writer Annie Fowler, it asks players, coaches and team personnel to rate the best of the Western Conference. The categories range from best fans to the most irritating player.
Some of the notable winners this year included Everett Silvertips fans, Madison Bowey for hardest shot, Seattle’s Evan Wardley most irritating player and Portland’s Oliver Bjorkstrand the most accurate shot. You can see all the results, along with the runner-ups in each category at the Tri City Herald’s website.
Whacky WHL weather
The Raiders were set to host the Regina Pats on Saturday but the game was postponed due to blizzard-like conditions in Prince Albert. That shouldn’t be too alarming, but on that same weekend they were opening up golf courses in Kamloops. What is going on here?
Player of the Week
Austin Carroll, LW, Victoria Royals Victoria flies under the radar somewhat as its division mates in Kelowna get all the headlines. But the Royals can play with anybody. Carroll is a big bodied winger for them and he potted five goals to go along with three assists over four games this week.
2015 NHL Draft Watch
Mathew Barzal, C, Seattle Thunderbirds There was a lot of speculation about how Barzal would rebound from cracking his knee cap earlier in the season. He seems to have answered that question with 14 points in his past nine games. Perhaps the most impressive part of his game is how strong he has been in puck battles along the boards.
Jansen Harkins, C, Prince George Cougars What is more impressive about Harkins? His 66 points in 58 games or the fact that he is putting up those kinds of numbers on a team that is in last place in the Western Conference? Despite the Cougars’ struggles, Harkins is still impressing.
Jake DeBrusk, LW, Swift Current Broncos DeBrusk has been rising up the WHL scoring charts as the season has progressed. He has potted 34 goals and it will be fun to watch how high his draft stock rises as the goals pile up.
Tyler Soy, C, Victoria Royals Why is Tyler Soy ranked as low as he is in the NHL draft rankings? All he does is produce points for the Royals—his 54 put him among the leaders of the WHL’s 17-year-olds.