Hitmen take 2-0 series lead over Swift Current

The Calgary Hitmen got a first star performance from Ottawa Senators prospect Chris Driedger and timely scoring en-route to a 3-1 win over the Swift Current Broncos and a 2-0 series lead in their Best-of-Seven Eastern Conference Quarter Final Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.

After the Hitmen spent the better part of the first period defending Cody Sylvester and Greg Chase got Calgary on the board in the second period.  Sylvester cashed in on a rebound for his first point of the series while Chase tipped home a Sylvester shot.

In the third period Victor Rask picked up a rebound off a Brooks Macek chance to count his first career WHL playoff goal.

Adam Lowry broke Driedger's shutout bid getting the Broncos on the scoreboard with just under 10 minutes remaining but the visitors could get no closer.

Through the first two games 14 different Hitmen have registered at least a point while their nine goals have come from seven different players.  Brady Brassart (3g), Greg Chase (1g 2a), Victor Rask (1g 2a) and Jaynen Rissling (3a) share the team lead with three points each.

The series now shifts to Saskatchewan for Games 3 and 4 Monday and Tuesday respectively

                                           Photo Credit: Brad Watson - Calgary Hitmen

Swift Current Broncos 1 at Calgary Hitmen 3
Friday, March 22, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

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

1st Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-Brassart Cal (hooking), 8:22; Sylvester Cal (high sticking), 11:19.

2nd Period
1, Calgary, Sylvester 1 (Rissling, Rask), 11:20.
2, Calgary, Chase 1 (Sylvester), 15:50.
Penalties-Scarlett S.c (roughing), 9:03; Macek Cal (roughing), 9:03; Cave S.c (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:48; Zgraggen Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:48.

3rd Period
3, Calgary, Rask 1 (Macek), 5:27.
4, Swift Current, Lowry 2 (Black, Gordon), 10:19 (PP).
Penalties-Gordon S.c (tripping), 0:42; Virtanen Cal (charging), 9:16; Humphries Cal (interference), 12:06; Reum S.c (holding), 16:28; Scarlett S.c (roughing), 17:01; Chase Cal (roughing), 17:01.

Shots on Goal-Swift Current 14-12-14-40. Calgary 7-9-7-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 1 / 4; Calgary 0 / 2.
Goalies-Swift Current, Laurikainen 0-1-1-0 (23 shots-20 saves). Calgary, Driedger 2-0-0-0 (40 shots-39 saves).
A-9,025
Referees-Fraser Lawrence (10), Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Reid Anderson (53), Aidan Henderson (78).