RED DEER, Alberta (Interstat) — The Calgary Hitmen will visit the Red Deer Rebels on Friday in a minor league hockey game at Marchant Crane Centrium. Calgary enters with an 8-5 record, while Red Deer is 8-6. The teams have met three times this season, with Calgary winning 7-3 and 3-2 in a shootout and Red Deer taking an 8-5 home decision.

Calgary is coming off a 5-4 overtime win over Saskatoon. Julien Maze is the player to watch for the Hitmen. He recorded three assists and three shots on goal in that victory, and Eric Tu made 35 saves on 39 shots. Carter Sanderson added a goal and an assist. Maze’s recent games include a three-goal, eight-shot performance against Medicine Hat, an assist with five shots and six penalty minutes in a loss to Medicine Hat, and an assist with two shots in Calgary’s 7-3 win over Red Deer. He also had two shots and four penalty minutes against Penticton, one shot against Lethbridge, a goal with five shots and two penalty minutes against Victoria, a goal with two shots at Red Deer, two shots and two penalty minutes against Regina, and an assist with four shots at Lethbridge.

Red Deer is coming off a 6-4 win over Saskatoon. Paxson Madill is the player to watch for the Rebels after posting a goal and two assists with three shots in that win. Poul Andersen had a goal and an assist with six shots, and Beckett Hamilton scored once with four shots. Madill also contributed three assists in a win at Moose Jaw and recorded one shot in Red Deer’s 8-5 home win over Calgary. Red Deer’s recent results include wins over Victoria and Edmonton and an overtime loss to Lethbridge.

Calgary’s other recent results include a 5-2 win at Medicine Hat and a 5-4 loss to Medicine Hat. Calgary also has a 5-2 loss to Victoria and an 8-5 loss at Red Deer among its recent results. Calgary’s other results include a 7-2 loss to Regina and a 4-3 win over Penticton. Calgary’s next game is against Kamloops. Red Deer’s recent results include a 9-4 win over Victoria, a 4-0 win over Edmonton, a 5-2 win at Moose Jaw, and a 4-2 win at Saskatoon. Red Deer also has a 4-3 overtime loss to Lethbridge and a 4-2 loss to Penticton among its recent results. Red Deer’s next games are at Edmonton and against Kamloops at home.

Interstat’s game simulator projects Red Deer 5, Calgary 4. Interstat’s ELO system projects Calgary with a 52.4 percent probability to win. The over-under for this game is 6.5.