SATURDAY NIGHT SUCCESS
Mack Shields stopped 28 shots, highlighted by a flurry of in-tight saves with under five minutes to go in the third, as the Hitmen defeated the surging Prince Albert Raiders 4-3 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Hitmen were shorthanded five times throughout the game, only allowing one goal against while blocking countless amounts of shots.
Calgary jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with two special team goals from Jake Virtanen and Pavel Padakin. Virtanen made a nice move on the goal line before backhanding the puck short side, on the power play, at the 13 minute mark of the first. A minute and thirty seconds later, Padakin picked up the puck, while shorthanded, in the high slot and rifled one top shelf to give the Hitmen a two-goal lead.
The lead did not last long as the Raiders potted two quick goals, four minutes apart, to even the game at two goals apiece. Reid Gardener and Carson Perreaux were the two goal scorers for Prince Albert. The Hitmen re-took the lead before the end of the first frame with a beautiful tip by Brady Brassart on the Ben Thomas point shot.
The second period started out intense, with both teams trading end-to-end rushes which lead to multiple scoring chances. The Hitmen restored their two-goal lead as Chase Clayton netted his first of the year off an impressive down low cycle by Calder Brooks and Kenton Helgesen. At the 2:10 mark of the second period, Craig Leverton slid one past Shields to reduce the Hitmen lead by one.
Shields made some dazzling saves to keep the Raiders off of the score sheet in the third period , which lead to a solid 4-3 Hitmen victory.
“We let our foot off the gas a little bit in the third period and Prince Albert made a late push to tie the game, but Mack (Shields) stood tall for us and preserved the win,” said Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson.
Padakin had the same praise for the netminder, “Mack (Shields) made some big saves early and we fed off of it . We have great confidence in our goalies and know that they give us a chance to win every night.”
The Hitmen have little time to soak in the victory as they are back on the ice tomorrow for a tilt against the Spokane Chiefs. Game time is 4 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome.
