HITMEN GRAB 2-1 SERIES LEAD
Calgary, Alberta — One goal in each period was the difference Tuesday night as the Calgary Hitmen, playing in front of over 15,000 fans at the Pengrowth Saddlecome, dumped the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings 3-1 to grab a 2-1 lead in their best of seven Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Semi-Final.r
r
Game four is scheduled for tonight in Calgary, before the series shifts back to Brandon’s Keystone Centre for game five on Friday.r
r
Brandon opened the scoring on the powerplay when Jakub Sindel‘s first period point shot beat Calgary’s Justin Pogge. But the lead didn’t last long as Shaun Landolt tied things up only 59 seconds later.r
r
After Russian Konstantin Pushkarev scored what proved to be the game winning goal early in the second period, Anaheim Mighty Ducks’ first round draft choice Ryan Getzlaf rounded out the scoring with just over a minute remaining in the third period.r
r
After scoring just two goals in their two losses in this series, Brandon general manager and head coach Kelly McCrrimmon knows that it will take a much better effort in game four tonight.r
r
“I think it puts a real sense of urgency into our team for game four,” McCrimmon told a flock of reporters after last night’s game. “We have to respond…we’ve done previously in the series and we must bring our best effort for game four.”r
r
The Wheat Kings, who finished with 28 shots on the game, went 1-6 with the man advantage Tuesday night and are now just 2-16 in the first three games of this series. After leading the WHL all season, Brandon’s powerplay must turn things around tonight if the Wheat Kings hope to return to Manitoba with the series deadlocked at two games each.r
r
In other related news, veteran Lance Monych will be out to set a new franchise record tonight when he takes to the ice for game four.r
r
The 21-year old Winnipeg product, who has played his entire WHL career in Brandon, will be playing in his 62nd career playoff game, eclipsing the club record that he currently shares with Ryan Robson and Kelly Smart. During those five years, Monych and the Wheat Kings have never missed post-season play. r
r
A fourth round draft choice of the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes, Monych also has the distinction of having played the second most games in Wheat Kings’ history – 319. Only current assistant coach Dwayne Gylywoychuk played in more games (323) as a Wheat King.