GAME 3 RECAP: Hitmen Put Wheat Kings On Brink Of Elimination with Game 3 Win
Virden, MB – The Calgary Hitmen were in Virden, Manitoba for Game 3 of their first-round series, earning a 3-1 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings and pushing them to the brink of elimination.
Andrei Molgachev opened the scoring late in the first period, giving Calgary the early lead heading into the second. The game remained scoreless through most of the middle frame until the final six minutes. After a spectacular breakaway save by Eric Tu, play quickly transitioned the other way, where Calgary capitalized with Ethan Moore scoring his fourth goal of the playoffs and what would be his third straight game winner. Just over a minute later, Luke Mistelbacher responded to pull the Wheat Kings within one.
The third period was tightly contested and nearly scoreless. With Filip Ruzicka on the bench for the extra attacker, Landon Amrhein found the empty net and sealed the win for Calgary. Calgary outshot Brandon 51-36, with Eric Tu making 35 saves.
The series takes Wednesday off before resuming in Virden at Tundra Oil & Gas Place on Thursday, Apr. 2. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CST/6:00 p.m. MT. Game 5, if necessary, is scheduled for the following night on Friday, Apr. 3. All games are available to stream for free on Victory+.
SERIES SCHEDULE: Best-of-Seven Round 1 series a 2-3-2 format.
| Game 4 | Thursday, April 2 | 6:00 p.m. | Tundra Oil & Gas Place, Virden | |
| Game 5* | Friday, April 3 | 6:30 p.m. | Tundra Oil & Gas Place, Virden | |
| Game 6* | Sunday, April 5 | 5:00 p.m. | Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary | |
| Game 7* | Tuesday, April 7 | 7:00 p.m. | Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary |
*Indicates if necessary
