Calgary 6 Kelowna 2

In a battle for third overall in the Western Hockey League the Calgary Hitmen beat the Kelowna Rockets 6-2 Sunday at Scotiabank Saddledome in front of 8,397.

After a scoreless first period the Hitmen blew the game open in the middle frame outshooting Kelowna 13-1 and scoring three times to build a 3-0 lead. 

The turning point came at 3:57 of the second period.  With Kelowna on a 5-on-3 powerplay, Cody Sylvester scored shorthanded giving Calgary a 2-0 lead.

On the day Brooks Macek led the scoring attack with three points (2g 1a) while Sylvester and Brady Brassart both had a goal and an assist.  Elliot Peterson and Jake Virtanen also netted goals.

Chris Driedger made 22 saves to pick up the win.

Calgary improves to 23-7-1-3.  At 50 points they lead the Eastern Conference by a single point and pull two points ahead of Kelowna for third overall.

The Hitmen will play their final game before the Christmas Break Tuesday when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Kelowna Rockets 2 at Calgary Hitmen 6
Sunday, December 16, 2012 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Kelowna 0 0 2 - 2
Calgary 0 3 3 - 6

1st Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Kosterman Cal (interference), 1:43; Rigby Kel (charging), 4:20; Hurley Cal (tripping), 9:53.

2nd Period
1, Calgary, Macek 14 (Brassart), 0:14.
2, Calgary, Sylvester 20 (Rissling), 3:57 (SH).
3, Calgary, Macek 15 (Padakin, Helgesen), 16:01.
Penalties-Peterson Cal (interference), 2:31; Humphries Cal (cross checking), 3:14; Heffley Kel (boarding), 5:46; Bowey Kel (10-minute misconduct), 8:19; Goulbourne Kel (major-fighting), 8:19; Hurley Cal (major-fighting), 8:19; Kosterman Cal (10-minute misconduct), 8:19; Severson Kel (roughing), 9:38; Rigby Kel (interference), 16:28.

3rd Period
4, Calgary, Peterson 2 (Calladine, Samoridny), 1:07.
5, Kelowna, Lees 3 (Franko), 8:18.
6, Calgary, Brassart 9 (Sylvester), 13:02 (PP).
7, Calgary, Virtanen 6 (Macek), 15:01.
8, Kelowna, Bowey 8 (Chartier), 17:23 (PP).
Penalties-Bell Kel (major-fighting), 1:30; Kosterman Cal (major-fighting), 1:30; Bowey Kel (slashing), 9:49; Rissling Cal (interference), 10:08; Lees Kel (cross checking), 11:54; Bell Kel (10-minute misconduct), 15:01; Olsen Kel (roughing), 15:33; Helgesen Cal (tripping), 15:33; Rissling Cal (roughing), 15:33; Bowey Kel (roughing), 18:41; Heffley Kel (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 20:00; Helgesen Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-Kelowna 13-1-10-24. Calgary 6-13-10-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Kelowna 1 / 6; Calgary 1 / 7.
Goalies-Kelowna, Whistle 7-1-0-0 (19 shots-16 saves); Morrissey 0-0-0-0 (10 shots-7 saves). Calgary, Driedger 17-5-1-2 (24 shots-22 saves).
A-8,379
Referees-Jeff Ingram (82), Simon Tartre.
Linesmen-Reid Anderson (53), Scott Sharun (103).