HITMEN HAVE CHANCE TO MOVE ON
The Calgary Hitmen are one victory away from an Eastern Conference Final berth, but oh how hard that last victory will be.
Leading three games to one, the Hitmen can finish off the Red Deer Rebels on Thursday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“That last game is always the toughest,” said head coach Mike Williamson. “We know (the Rebels) aren’t going to have any quit or lay down in them. We are going to see their best and I think we have more to give and another level to get to. That’s got to be our focus going into the next game.”
It’s been a hard fought series with the last two games going into overtime. Despite owning the series lead, Calgary has only outscored the Rebels by three goals this entire series.
One of the positives moving forward for the Hitmen is that they have yet to lose on home ice in the playoffs, winning all five games.
“Going back home to Calgary, playing in front of our fans, they are going to be excited. I know our team is going to be excited,” said Cody Sylvester, the overtime hero in Game 4 that put the Hitmen in the situation to end the series on Thursday. “We are going to come out hard, but we also know that Red Deer isn’t going to quit.”
Calgary has been in this position already in the playoffs. The similar script played out in round one against the Swift Current Broncos. Calgary won the first two games on home ice, split the pair on the road before finishing off Speedy Creek in Game 5 at the ‘Dome.
The players are hoping nothing changes this time around.
“Just like that Swift Current game, we have to come out strong and play 100 per cent and just play Hitmen hockey,” said defenceman Spencer Humphries, who assisted on Tuesday night’s game winner.
Game 5 goes on Thursday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Game time is 7 p.m. with tickets still available.
