Monday, December 29, 2014

Kootenay 4 Calgary 3

From Chris Wahl ... http://www.kootenayice.net/article/ice-sweep-home-and-home-with-hitmen
Wyatt Hoflin made 34 saves, and four different ICE players found the back of the net as Kootenay defeated the Calgary Hitmen 4-3 Sunday at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Hoflin matched a franchise record by appearing in his 25th consecutive game, while the ICE enjoyed three separate two-goal leads in collecting their fifth straight victory, and second in as many days against the Hitmen.

Kootenay opened the scoring just past the midway mark of the first period on a power play when Zak Zborosky snapped a wrist shot past Calgary netminder Mack Shields.

Jon Martin added a second ICE goal 45 seconds later before Adam Tambellini brought the hosts back to within a goal before the first period was complete.

Kootenay increased its lead to 3-1 1:25 into the second period thanks to Levi Cable, who spun a shot past Shields for his fifth goal, and seventh point, of the weekend.

The Hitmen cut the ICE advantage in half on a power-play at 12:15 when Kenton Helgesen deflected Ben Thomas' point shot past Hoflin for his 11th goal of the season.

Kootenay forward Luke Philp put the ICE back up by two goals three minutes later, becoming the third ICE player to reach the 15-goal mark this season.

Tambellini fired home his second goal of the game with 50 seconds remaining in the middle frame while short-handed, making the score 4-3 in favour of Kootenay after 40 minutes.

Calgary outshot the ICE 9-4 in the third period, but could not solve Hoflin as the Kootenay goaltender collected his 20th victory of the season. Hoflin stood as the WHL leader in both minutes played and saves entering play Sunday.

ICE forwards Zborosky, Jaedon Descheneau and Tim Bozon each extended their point streaks to five games Sunday. Descheneau has recorded points in 17 of his last 18 games.

Shields stopped 14 of 18 Kootenay shots and was assessed the loss in goal for the Hitmen. He was replaced by Evan Johnson late in the second period.

Both teams were 1-3 on the power play.

UP NEXT: the ICE continues its four-game road swing Tuesday in Medicine Hat. Game time is 7:00 pm.