Red Deer at Calgary

The Calgary Hitmen (41-24-2-1), with just seven days left in the regular season, host the Red Deer Rebels (30-32-1-5) today in a late Sunday matinee.  Game time is 4:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome.  Internet Broadcast on Sportsnet960.ca also starts at 4 o'clock.  Calgary is coming off Friday's 6-3 win Lethbridge while Red Deer will play their third game in as many days.  They dropped a 5-2 home ice decision Friday against Edmonton before falling 7-4 last night in the provincial capital. 

Today's game is a fundraiser for ConnecTeen Calgary with a special $10 ticket offer.  Click here to see the ticket offer

With four games left in the regular season, the Hitmen are currently fourth in the WHL's Eastern Conference with 85 points, four back of third place Medicine Hat and five points up on fifth place Kootenay, however the Hitmen have a game in hand on both teams.  Red Deer meanwhile is ninth in the conference with 66 points and were mathematically eliminated from the playoff chase last night.
Today is the sixth and final meeting between the two clubs.  Calgary leads the season series 4-1 having outscored the Rebels by a combined 20-11.  Jimmy Bubnick (4g 6a) leads all Hitmen with 10 points against Red Deer.  Chase Clayton (4g 1a), Greg Chase (1g 4a) and Cody Sylvester (1g 4a) are all next with five.  Matthew Dumba (3g 2a) and John Persson (2g 3a) tops the Rebels with five points each against Calgary. 
-Oct. 7 in CAL: Rebels 4 Hitmen 2.  Colton Mayor and John Persson each had a goal and an assist for the Rebels.
-Jan. 17 in RD: Hitmen 5 Rebels 1.  Alex Gogolev scored twice, while Greg Chase had a career high three points (1g 2a).
-Jan. 22 in CAL: Hitmen 4 Rebels 2.  Chase Clayton scored twice while Brooks Macek had two assists.
-Feb. 4 in RD: Hitmen 6 Rebels 2.  Jimmy Bubnick had a career high five points (2g 3a).
-March 6 in RD: Hitmen 3 Rebels 2.  Brandon Glover made 33 saves.
                                                         INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on goal:  CAL 169  RD 159  Powerplays: CAL 1-16 (6.3%) RD 4-22 (18.2%)
MAGIC NUMBER:  Calgary needs just a single point or to have Kootenay drop just a single point to clinch home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.  A points tie in the overall standings would go to Calgary as the WHL imposed tie breaker goes to the team with the most wins.

WHAT'S LEFT:  Following today's game the Hitmen host Lethbridge on Wednesday before closing out the regular season with a home and home against the Kootenay Ice Friday (in Cranbrook) and Saturday (in Calgary). 
TOP SCORERS:

Calgary
Jimmy Bubnick 31g 37a 68pts
Cody Sylvester 23g 43a 66pts
Victor Rask 31g 26a 57pts

Red Deer
John Persson 22g 32a 54pts
Matthew Dumba 20g 33a 53pts
Turner Elson 21g 25a 46pts