Calgary Hitmen work OT magic in Game 1 vs. Swift Current

In a game that saw the Swift Current Broncos overcome deficits of 4-0 and 5-3 to force overtime, it was the Calgary Hitmen who scored the final goal in a 6-5 victory in Game 1 of their Best-of-Seven Eastern Conference Quarter-Final Series.

Alex Roach was the hero sneeking a shot from the bottom of the left winger circle through the pads of Broncos goalie Eetu Laurikainen 4:32 into sudden death.

Brady Brassart registered his first career playoff hat trick for Calgary who also got goals in regulation from Brooks Macek and Colten Mayor.

Five different Broncos found the back of the net with Coda Gordon, Ryon Moser and Graham Black all picking up a goal and an assist.  Adam Lowry and Levi Bews also scored for the visitors who were outshot 38-28.

Game 2 of the series goes Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.  Game time is 7:00 p.m.

                                          Photo Credit: Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen

Swift Current Broncos 5 at Calgary Hitmen 6
Thursday, March 21, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Swift Current 0 3 2 0 - 5
Calgary 2 2 1 1 - 6

1st Period
1, Calgary, Macek 1 (Rask), 0:34 (PP).
2, Calgary, Brassart 1 (Humphries, Rissling), 19:05.
Penalties-Lowry S.c (interference), 0:29; Virtanen Cal (tripping), 7:51; Roach Cal (kneeing), 11:23.

2nd Period
3, Calgary, Mayor 1 (Helgesen, Clayton), 5:33.
4, Calgary, Brassart 2 (Rissling, Chase), 5:49.
5, Swift Current, Lowry 1 (Black, Heatherington), 10:23.
6, Swift Current, Moser 1 (Cave), 11:14.
7, Swift Current, Bews 1 (Moser, Cave), 12:29 (PP).
Penalties-Rissling Cal (roughing), 11:36.

3rd Period
8, Calgary, Brassart 3 (Chase, Zgraggen), 3:47.
9, Swift Current, Gordon 1 (Scarlett, Heatherington), 4:20.
10, Swift Current, Black 1 (Gordon), 13:53 (PP).
Penalties-Mayor Cal (high sticking), 9:00; Humphries Cal (delay of game), 13:33; Cave S.c (delay of game), 14:54.

OT Period
11, Calgary, Roach 1 (Padakin, Brooks), 4:32.
Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Swift Current 4-11-12-1-28. Calgary 12-9-12-5-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 2 / 5; Calgary 1 / 2.
Goalies-Swift Current, Laurikainen 0-0-1-0 (38 shots-32 saves). Calgary, Driedger 1-0-0-0 (28 shots-23 saves).
A-6,576
Referees-Jon Stephenson (38), Colin Watt (72).
Linesmen-Cory Lundquist (128), Scott Sharun (103).