Hitmen produce a win in 19th annual Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss

It was a case of deja vu Sunday at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.

For the second year in a row, import Pavel Padakin scored the goal that brought the teddy bears down onto the ice, helping the Calgary Hitmen beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 in the 19th annual Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss.

Padakin proceeded to celebrate the big goal by making snow angels on the ice among the raining teddy bears.

Greg Chase scored a pair of goals in the win while Joe Mahon added his first as a Hitmen.

Steven Owre broke Chris Driedger's shutout bid with 4:29 remaining.

The goal was the lone blemish on what otherwise was a brilliant performance by Driedger who made 39 saves in a second star performance.

The victory was a big one for the Hitmen, moving them to within three points of the Eastern Conference co-leading Tigers and Swift Current Broncos.  Calgary also has a pair of games in hand on Medicine Hat and five games in hand on Swift Current.

The Hitmen will host Red Deer Tuesday night at the 'Dome in a 7 o'clock start.

TEDDY BEAR TALLY:  A total of 25,921 stuffed toys were collected after Padakin's goal 3:42 into the second period.  Those teddy bears will now be shared among over 50 local charities.

                                           Photo Credit:  Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen

Medicine Hat Tigers 1 at Calgary Hitmen 4
Sunday, December 1, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Medicine Hat 0 0 1 - 1
Calgary 0 3 1 - 4

1st Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Doty M.h (major-fighting), 12:43; Rissling Cal (major-fighting), 12:43; Becker M.h (roughing), 18:34; Padakin Cal (roughing), 18:34; Rissling Cal (interference), 18:47.

2nd Period
1, Calgary, Padakin 7 (Fazleev, Roach), 3:42.
2, Calgary, Mahon 1 (Lang, Draude), 16:03.
3, Calgary, Chase 15 (Harmsworth, Thomas), 19:55.
Penalties-Brassart Cal (roughing), 13:01.

3rd Period
4, Calgary, Chase 16 (Brassart, Roach), 3:07 (PP).
5, Medicine Hat, Owre 8 (Butcher, Becker), 15:31.
Penalties-Shinkaruk M.h (high sticking), 1:09; Thomas Cal (interference), 1:16; McVeigh M.h (high sticking), 2:09; Lewington M.h (major-fighting), 8:53; Mahon Cal (major-fighting), 8:53; Chase Cal (interference), 9:27; Padakin Cal (major-slashing, game misconduct), 20:00.

Shots on Goal
Medicine Hat 13-12-15-40. Calgary 12-11-6-29.
Power Play Opportunities
Medicine Hat 0 / 3; Calgary 1 / 2.
Goalies
Medicine Hat, Wapple 8-4-1-0 (29 shots-25 saves). Calgary, Driedger 9-6-1-3 (40 shots-39 saves).
A-17,199
Referees-Derek Zalaski (8), Jason Cramer (57).
Linesmen-Jared Mackey (52), Justin Slimm (105).