Hitmen Report: Moving on up

The Calgary Hitmen captured five of a possible six points this week and crept into a divisional playoff spot. With only eight games remaining, they’re in a favourable playoff position.

The lead changed four times as the Hitmen and Pats engaged in a back and forth game. The Hitmen rallied back in the second period to tie the game, but lost when Regina scored 30 seconds into overtime. James Malm scored twice while Mark Kastelic and Vladislav Yeryomenko added goals of their own. Five different Pats scored for Regina. Calgary netminder Jack McNaughton made 25 saves, while Regina’s Dean McNabb stopped 37 shots.

Unlike Friday’s game, the Hitmen jumped on Swift Current early and never let up. Two Hitmen – Devan Klassen and Jackson van de Leest – scored their first goals of the season, while Malm, Luke Coleman, Kaden Elder and Ryder Korczak also scored. Carson Focht had four assists. McNaughton made 22 saves, while Broncos goaltender Isaac Poulter made 35 saves.

In the Hitmen’s annual anti-bullying game, the Broncos stuck around for the first period but the Hitmen pulled away in the second. Focht had four goals, Elder had three goals, while Coleman and Malm had one apiece. Josh Prokop had four assists. McNaughton needed to make just 11 saves for the win, while Poulter made 23 saves and was left in for all nine goals against. (In a three-game stretch this week, he gave up 23 goals over eight periods.)

With eight games remaining in the regular season, the Hitmen are snugly in third place in the Central Divison (with a 32-22-6 record). They’re eight points back of the first place Edmonton Oil Kings, but play them three more times. Anything is possible, friends.

The Hitmen have a busy week ahead, with four games on the docket! First, a three-in-three: they host Brandon on Friday, then head west for a home-and-home against the Kootenay ICE on Saturday and Sunday. The week closes out on Wednesday with a trip to Medicine Hat.