Calgary Hitmen vs Edmonton Oil Kings
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Hitmen fall 3-1 to Oil Kings By Laurence Heinen hitmenhockey.com
CALGARY, AB. – Following a spirited second period, the Calgary Hitmen surrendered a pair of goals in the final frame to the Edmonton Oil Kings.
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T.J. Foster and Jordan Hickmott, on a two-man advantage, tallied the goals that propelled the visiting Oil Kings (11-14-0-1) to a 3-1 win over the Hitmen (6-19-1-0).
“We’re not giving a full 60-minute effort,” commented Hitmen forward Nathan MacMaster following the setback. “It’s not that we’re not competing or working hard. It’s just little lapses that are losing us the games.” 2011 NHL Entry Draft prospect Michael St. Croix scored once in the first period for Edmonton and set up another in the third to lead all scorers.
Misha Fisenko counted the lone goal of the contest, during a second period man advantage, for the Hitmen, who have now dropped three straight decisions.
Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance, although he thought assistant captain Cody Sylvester, who was chosen as second star, had a good game.
“We struggled to get going,” Williamson said. “I thought we had one guy tonight that competed from start to finish and that was Sylvester.”
Michael Snider made 23 saves in a losing cause for the Hitmen, while Edmonton goalie Jon Groenheyde stopped 18 of 19 shots he faced to improve his record to 6-8-1.
St. Croix opened the scoring at 6:04 of the first period when he fired a shot to the short side past Snider. A short time later, Snider got his revenge when he made a great glove grab to deny the Edmonton sniper of his second goal of the game.
Not to be outdone, Groenheyde made a nice pad save to stop a close-in attempt by Calgary forward Jimmy Bubnick. Groenheyde then made a nice glove save on a shot off the stick of Justin Kirsch before St. Croix hit the post at the other end of the ice.
MacMaster had a great chance to tie the game on an early power play for Calgary in the second period, but Groenheyde slid across his net to make a pad save to thrwart the Hitmen forward.
On yet another man advantage for Calgary, MacMaster fed a nice pass into the slot to Fisenko, who wired a shot past Groenheyde to tie the contest at 1-1.
“We were urgent to get a goal and get back into the game, so we got a power play and capitalized on the chance,” MacMaster said.
The Oil Kings then regained their one-goal bulge at 3:24 of the third period when Foster pounced on a rebound before sliding a backhand shot past Snider.
Less than five minutes later, Hickmott notched an insurance marker during a two-man advantage for the Oil Kings.
“I don’t think you can give that team a two-man advantage that late in the game,” MacMaster said. “They’re going to take advantage of it.”
The Hitmen will now head west to B.C. for a three-game road trip starting on Wednesday night in Prince George against the Cougars. They’ll then face the Giants in Vancouver next Friday before heading back to Kamloops to play the Blazers the following night.
“Whether we’re here or in B.C., Saskatchewan or Manitoba, it doesn’t matter, we have to compete,” Williamson said. “We’ve got some key guys that just aren’t doing what needs to be done.”
THREE STARS 1. Michael St. Croix, Oil Kings 2. Cody Sylvester, Hitmen 3. Mark Pysyk, Oil Kings
OIL KINGS 3 at HITMEN 1 First period Penalties – Ewanyk Edm (checking from behind) 2:36, Kirsch Cal (boarding) 11:50, Fisenko Cal (tripping) 18:10, Lowe Edm (tripping) 19:03.
Second period Penalties – Rachinski Edm (hooking) 4:23, Pelss Edm (roughing) 5:52, Wruck Edm (roughing, fighting), Sylvester Cal (high-sticking, fighting) 11:08, Wilson Edm, Roach Cal (fighting) 13:27, Lowe Edm (interference) 18:36.
Third period 4. Edmonton, Hickmott 11 (St. Croix, Lazowski) 7:52 (pp) Penalties – Bubnick Cal (checking from behind) 1:17, Santini Cal (hooking) 6:39, Lawrence Cal (delay of game) 6:23.
Shots on goal by: Goal – Edmonton: Groenheyde (W, 6-8-1); Calgary: Snider (L, 4-11-1). Referees – Devin Klein, Greg Sarauer. Linesmen – Bobby Bedingfield, Scott Sharun.
Click here for the official game summary. |
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