Hitmen put chaotic win behind them, focus on critical Game 4
By Andrew Schopp – Hitmenhockey.com (@Azschopp)
That was a wild one.
The dust has settled on the highest scoring game of the 2015 WHL Playoffs so far with 22 different players putting up points in the Calgary Hitmen 8-7 overtime victory over the Kootenay Ice on Tuesday at Western Financial Place.
For the Hitmen, defenceman Travis Sanheim posted a torrid five points while somewhat lost in the madness, Adam Tambellini scored a hat-trick, which included the game-winner to clinch a 2-1 series lead for his squad.
Other standouts included Hitmen forward Chase Lang, who netted a pair of goals and Ice winger Tim Bozon, who posted an explosive six-point night.
“It was an interesting game to say the least,” Hitmen associate coach Brent Kisio said of Tuesday’s goal-scoring frenzy. “I think both goalies would like to have some goals back. More importantly we had some saves when we needed them and we found a way to win a game.”
Kisio doesn’t expect much of the same in what has become a critical Game 4 for the Hitmen.
With Tuesday’s tilt being the exception, the Round 1 series between the Hitmen and Ice has been defensively sound.
The long-time bench boss said the Hitmen have to put the anomaly behind them as they reset their focus on brining a 3-1 series lead back to the Scotiabnak Saddledome on Friday.
“We don’t want to try and win a game 8-7,” Kisio said. “That’s not the way we won games all year long. We’ve got to get back to playing a little more defensive hockey and then taking advantage of our opportunities when we’re given them.”
After Game 3, two Ice and a pair of Hitmen sit in the top 10 of WHL Playoffs scoring.
Bozon’s six-point performance has him sitting No. 2 while Tambellini is right behind him in third with four goals and an assist.
A win on Wednesday would put the Hitmen in a position to clinch the series on Friday at home.
The importance of Game 4 in Cranbrook hasn’t escaped the series’ two-time overtime hero.
Although difficult to find the bright spots in an outrageous 15-goal game, the New York Rangers prospect said there were certainly some positives for the Hitmen to take into Game 4.
“It’s a big game to put a stranglehold on the series,” Tambellini said of Wednesday’s tilt. “I thought we came out pretty good in Game 3, we need to come out the same and limit our mistakes a bit to make sure the score doesn’t run too high.”
After the Hitmen finish up in British Columbia, the series will shift back to Calgary where the Hitmen will meet the Ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
