Game 4 Preview: Hitmen at Rebels

The Calgary Hitmen are in Red Deer tonight to face the Rebels in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Semi Final. The Hitmen lead in the best-of-seven series has been reduced to 2-1 after Red Deer produced an overtime win last night. Game time tonight is 7:00 p.m. at the Enmax Centrium.  Radio Broadcast on Sportsnet 960 The Fan starts at six o'clock with a 60 minute pre-game show.  Guests include Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson, defenceman Peter Kosterman and forward Chase Lang.  We'll also be joined by Rebels associate coach Jeff Truitt.

                                         Photo Credit: Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen

SERIES TRENDS: The home team has won all three games....Calgary has opened the scoring in all three games.

DID YOU KNOW?  All three Hitmen road games in the 2013 playoffs have been decided in overtime.

SHOTS AND GOALS BY PERIOD IN THE SERIES:
Calgary
1st Period:40-3
2nd Period:37-4
3rd Period:33-0
Overtime:4-0
Total:114 shots 7 goals

Red Deer
1st Period:30-2
2nd Period:30-1
3rd Period:38-1
Overtime:6-1
Total: 104 shots 5 goals

SPECIAL TEAMS:  The special teams battle is even through three games.  Although Calgary is 2-12 on the powerplay (16.7%) they have also surrendered a shorthanded goal while Red Deer is 1-12 with the man advantage (8.3%)

SERIES BATTLE OF THE CREASE: Calgary's Chris Driedger is 2-1 with a 1.61GAA and a .952 save percentage.  Red Deer's Patrik Bartosak is 1-2 with a 2.28GAA and a .939 save percentage.

STREAKIN': Dating back to the regular season Victor Rask is riding a 14 game point streak (6g 14a 20pts).  Brooks Macek (2a) has points in back-to-back games.

TIGHT DEFENCE:  Thanks to the stellar goaltending of Chris Driedger and strong play in front of him the Hitmen have held their opponents to two goals or less in the last five games.  Driedger leads all goalies in the 2013 playoffs with 262 saves.

POST SEASON RECORDS:  Calgary is 1-2 on the road with both losses in overtime while Red Deer is 3-0 at home.

SERIES TOP SCORERS:
Calgary
Brad Brassart 3g 0a 3pts
Victor Rask 1g 2a 3pts
Cody Sylvester 0g 3a 3pts

Red Deer
Rhyse Dieno 0g 2a 2pts
10 other Rebels have one point each

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:  Cody Sylvester's 45 career playoff games has him tied for 19th in the Hitmen record books with Matt Mackenzie and Riley Merkley.  Michael Stone tops the list with 72.  Sylvester's 13 goals is 13th all time.

GAME 5 IN CALGARY:  The Rebels win last night means there will be a Game 5 at Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday.  Game time is 7:00 p.m. with tickets on sale now!  http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/11004A5CBF4A8DA6?artistid=833512&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=9&tm_link=artist_msg-0_11004A5CBF4A8DA6