Buenaventura stops 50 for weary hosts to take down rival Oil Kings
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The Calgary Hitmen hope 2024 at house is a happier place than final 12 months.
They began out with a smile Sunday, due to a 5-1 victory over the rival Edmonton Oil Kings in Western Hockey League motion.
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The sport earlier than 4,424 followers marked the Hitmen’s first motion on Scotiabank Saddledome ice since Dec. 17.
A 50-save efficiency from netminder Ethan Buenaventura and an ideal penalty kill was the recipe for fulfillment for the celebratory outcome.
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“Our goaltender was superior and was the distinction within the recreation,” Hitmen head coach Steve Hamilton informed reporters post-game. “I assumed he actually stood tall. We don’t normally quit 50 factors, so we would have liked a efficiency from him.
“I believe we performed very well,” Buenaventura informed reporters post-game. “Defensively, I noticed each puck.”
Keets Fawcett opened up the scoring within the first 40 seconds with a helper from Tyson Greenway, who returned to the lineup for the primary time in 10 video games after battling harm.
The guests would get on the scoresheet with beneath two minutes left within the first to tie the sport heading into the second.
The center body then noticed the Calgary facet within the field on three separate events, however the Hitmen would kill all three to carry the Oil Kings off the board within the interval. The HItmen prolonged their result in two, courtesy of objectives from Maxim Muranov and Carson Wetsch. A breakaway save by Buenaventura stored the home-side lead intact coming into the ultimate body.
One other fast aim in the beginning of the third from Wyatt Pisarczyk made it 4-1, for the rookie blueliner’s second of the season. This might stay the lone aim of the interval till Fawcett tipped a puck residence off a shot from Greenway within the remaining six minutes, making the ultimate rating 5-1.
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Ethan Moore and Muranov each prolonged their point-streaks to 9 and 7 video games respectively. Teammate Buenaventura earned first-star accolades along with his unimaginable 50-save night time.
“They’ve generated offensively,” Hamilton mentioned. “They’re very dependable and constant defensively.”
It was their fourth assembly of the season with the Oil Kings in what opened up a seven-game home-stand for the HItmen.
It comes contemporary off a large road-swing west towards the WHL’s B.C. Division, which noticed them go 1-2-2. They completed off the trek Friday night time with a 6-2 win over the host Kamloops Blazers. The triumph featured a four-point night time from Sean Tschigerl.
“I actually didn’t assume we had a ton within the tank,” Hamilton mentioned. “Typically you’ve bought to win ugly video games and also you’ve bought to discover a approach if you’re not bodily feeling your finest — and we did that.”
“It was an extended road-trip — I believe all the fellows have been fairly drained,” agreed Buenaventura. “Being on the street for that lengthy, you get fairly worn out. However I believe the most important factor for me (Sunday) was simply mind-set. I informed myself I wasn’t drained, although I is likely to be feeling it.”
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The Hitmen (15-17-5-1) have collected factors in all 4 video games to start out the brand new 12 months and sit in ninth place within the WHL’s Japanese Convention — one level again of the Prince Albert Raiders (17-18-0-2) for the ultimate playoff spot.
The Hitmen now have 4 days off earlier than returning to residence ice Friday towards the Spokane Chiefs (14-17-3-0). Sport time is midday on the Dome.
The workforce then wraps subsequent weekend with one other Sunday Funday, introduced by Brookfield Residential, subsequent Sunday, when the Tri-Metropolis Individuals (16-17-2-1) make a cease on the Dome (2 p.m.).
“We’ve had one follow within the final — no matter — 13, 14 days,” added Buenaventura. “So it’ll be good to get some follow and work on some little issues with the group and my personally recreation itself.”
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