Hitmen Report: Grand Theft Wolf

The Calgary Hitmen had a busy weekend last week. They had a pair of games against the hated Edmonton Oil Kings, but their weekend swung on a game against the Everett Silvertips and Calgary Flames prospect Dustin Wolf.

The Hitmen played three games in three nights. They had mixed results.

On Friday they played the Edmonton Oil Kings for the sixth time this season. They lost 4-2 after giving up three power play goals to Edmonton in the second period. Blake Allan and Mark Kastelic scored for the Hitmen. Oil Kings goalie Todd Scott made 40 saves for the win, while Calgary’s Brayden Peters made 17 saves in the loss.

On Saturday, the Hitmen played Edmonton again – this time at Rogers Arena in the Oil Kings’ Teddy Bear Toss game. The Hitmen got out to a 2-0 lead before Edmonton forced overtime, but Calgary won 3-2 in extra time. They received goals from Riley Stotts, Kastelic and Jett Woo. Jack McNaughton made 19 saves for the win.

On Sunday, Dustin Wolf and the Everett Silvertips visited. The Hitmen were sharp early but Wolf was superb. Despite leading at one point 3-1, the Hitmen blew the lead and lost 6-3. Former Stockton Heat defender Jake Christiansen had three points while Wolf made 32 saves for the win. Calgary got goals from Stotts (twice) and Egor Zamula.

In their last game action for awhile, the Hitmen have a home-and-home series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday and Sunday.

The Hitmen are 15-9-3-1 and sit nine points behind Lethbridge with five games in hand. A big weekend could help them reel in a divisional playoff spot and avoid taking their chances with the wild cards.

They’ll be without forward Jonas Peterek and defender Egor Zamula, who’ll be away at World Junior camps. Losing Zamula will really hurt, as he’s easily been their best and most consistent player this season.