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Enmax Centre

Hitmen down Hurricanes 7-4, to end a three game weekend

Mar 21, 2021 | 9:16 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — After dousing the Hitmen 3-1 on Friday night at the Enmax and then giving up a penalty-heavy 4-3 OT loss on Saturday night in Calgary, the two teams returned to the Enmax Sunday evening for the final of their three-game weekend.

The Canes’ were looking for redemption after the previous night’s loss but, it was the Hitmen who posted the goal – six minutes in – when Adam Kydd landed his first of the season, with the assist coming from Tristan Zandee and Luke Prokop.

Kydd was called for hooking a few minutes after the goal, followed by another penalty for team-mate Tyson Galloway, for checking from behind.

The penalties offered a power play opportunity for the Canes and Logan Barlage took full advantage to tie the game, assisted by Alex Cotton and Dino Kambeitz.

Final moments of the period produced roughing penalties against Calgary’s Riley Fiddler-Schultz and the Canes Liam Kindree. The buzzer ended on a 1-1 tie.

The second frame produced a string of goals and penalties. Hurricane Joe Arntsen was sent to the box four minutes in for high sticking and team-mate Justin Hall followed on a slashing penalty.

The Hitmen then picked up the pace with a succession of goals. At the nine-minute mark, Zac Funk lobbed the puck between the pipes, to give his team a one goal lead.

Action didn’t end there, as two minutes later, Cael Zimmerman took an assist from Jackson van de Leest, to give his team a three-goal lead. But, the Hitmen didn’t allow the puck to cool off. Just 30 seconds later, Adam Kydd tallied his second goal of the game on an assist from Zac Funk.

The period ended with the Hitmen holding a strong 4-1 lead.

When the teams returned to the ice for the final frame they picked up where the left of in the last 20. Connor Gabruch landed his first goal of the season, putting the Hitmen ahead 5-1.

That score, and being on home ice, upped the anti for the Hurricanes and the team turned out a string of goals, beginning with Jett Jones at 6:29.

Zach Stringer followed up by taking the assist from Mitch Prowse and adding another goal at 11:48 and reducing Calgary’s lead to 5-3. But, Stringer wasn’t finished. Three minutes later, a power play provided another opportunity as he slid the puck into the Hitmen net and reducing the opponents lead to 5-4.

As the game wound down, the chance of an overtime disappeared.

The Canes’ bench boss pulled their goalie with 2:39 remaining and Calgary’s Riley Stotts obliged with an empty net goal, as did his team mate, Josh Prokop, just seconds before the buzzer.

The Hitmen take the game 7-4.