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 yr.
They began out with a smile Sunday, because of 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 consequence.
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“Our goaltender was superior and was the distinction within the sport,” Hitmen head coach Steve Hamilton advised reporters post-game. “I assumed he actually stood tall. We don’t often quit 50 factors, so we would have liked a efficiency from him.
“I believe we performed rather well,” Buenaventura advised 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 getting into the ultimate body.
One other fast objective at first of the third from Wyatt Pisarczyk made it 4-1, for the rookie blueliner’s second of the season. This is able to stay the lone objective of the interval till Fawcett tipped a puck dwelling off a shot from Greenway within the ultimate 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 unbelievable 50-save evening.
“They’ve generated offensively,” Hamilton stated. “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 an enormous road-swing west towards the WHL’s B.C. Division, which noticed them go 1-2-2. They completed off the trek Friday evening with a 6-2 win over the host Kamloops Blazers. The triumph featured a four-point evening from Sean Tschigerl.
“I actually didn’t suppose we had a ton within the tank,” Hamilton stated. “Generally you’ve acquired to win ugly video games and also you’ve acquired to discover a manner if you’re not bodily feeling your finest — and we did that.”
“It was a protracted road-trip — I believe all the fellows have been fairly drained,” agreed Buenaventura. “Being on the highway for that lengthy, you get fairly worn out. However I believe the most important factor for me (Sunday) was simply mind-set. I advised 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 begin the brand new yr 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 dwelling ice Friday towards the Spokane Chiefs (14-17-3-0). Recreation time is midday on the Dome.
The group then wraps subsequent weekend with one other Sunday Funday, introduced by Brookfield Residential, subsequent Sunday, when the Tri-Metropolis People (16-17-2-1) make a cease on the Dome (2 p.m.).
“We’ve had one observe within the final — no matter — 13, 14 days,” added Buenaventura. “So it’ll be good to get some observe and work on some little issues with the group and my personally sport itself.”
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