Medicine Hat at Calgary

The Calgary Hitmen (25-16-2-1) open a five game home stand tonight against the Medicine Hat Tigers (25-16-2-2).  Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome.  The Hitmen are riding a season high eight game winning streak and are coming off last night's 5-1 victory in Red Deer.  The Tigers meanwhile have won just two of their last six games but picked up two points in their last outing, a 6-3 triumph over visiting Moose Jaw Saturday night.

Calgary enters play with 53 points, just one point back of Medicine Hat and Regina who share fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 54.

                                                Photo Credit: Avery Buye

Tonight is the third of six meetings between the two teams.  Medicine Hat leads the season series 2-0.  Tigers goalie and Edmonton Oilers prospect Tyler Bunz has been sensational against the Hitmen stopping 73 of 74 shots for a 2-0 record with a .50 goals against average and a .986 save percentage.  Anaheim Ducks first round pick Emerson Etem has also been a star with six assists in two games.
-Oct. 15 in MH: Tigers 5 Hitmen 0.  Tyler Bunz 36 save shutout.  Emerson Etem four assists.
-Dec. 4 in CAL: Tigers 2 Hitmen 1.  Tyler Bunz 37 saves.  Curtis Valk two goals, Emerson Etem two assists.

STREAKIN':  Five Hitmen take point scoring streaks into tonight's game.  Jimmy Bubnick (3g 4a) is on a four game run.  Cody Sylvester (2g 4a) has points in three straight. Danny Gayle (1g 4a), Alex Gogolev (2g 1a) and Calder Brooks (1g 1a) all have points in back-to-back games.  Collin Bowman is a combined +10 in his last five games.  Goaltender Brandon Glover has won his last six starts, while Chris Driedger has won two straight.

Top Scorers:

Calgary
Cody Sylvester 17g 33a 50pts
Jimmy Bubnick 19g 23a 42pts
Alex Gogolev 18g 16a 34pts

Medicine Hat
Emerson Etem 37g 31a 68pts
Hunter Shinkaruk 32g 24a 56pts
James Bettauer 10g 16a 26pts

Calgary is 11-7-0-1 on home ice while the Tigers are 13-8-1-1 on the road.