Hitmen drop season opener

Too many trips to the penalty box proved costly as the Calgary Hitmen opened a new season with a 7-3 loss in Edmonton Friday night.

The Oil Kings blew the game open scoring three times with the extra attacker in a span of 2:09, all on the powerplay to break a 1-1 first period tie.

The defending Eastern Conference champs finished with five powerplay goals on 10 chances.

                                                     Photo Credit: Andy Devlin

Greg Chase scored a pair of goals for Calgary in the loss while Jake Virtanen added a single.  Kenton Helgesen, who played forward chipped in a pair of assists.

Calgary Hitmen 3 at Edmonton Oil Kings 7
Friday, September 20, 2013 - Rexall Place - Edmonton, AB

Calgary 1 0 2 - 3
Edmonton 4 2 1 - 7

1st Period
1, Edmonton, Irving 1 (Sautner, Kieser), 4:20.
2, Calgary, Virtanen 1 (Rissling), 9:56 (PP).
3, Edmonton, Sautner 1 (Samuelsson, Corbett), 11:04 (PP).
4, Edmonton, Moroz 1 (Irving, Samuelsson), 12:34 (PP).
5, Edmonton, Corbett 1 (Eller, Kulda), 13:13 (PP).
Penalties-Galbraith Cal (elbowing), 2:20; Zgraggen Cal (holding), 5:23; Thrower Cal (boarding), 7:37; Moroz Edm (boarding, boarding), 8:08; Jones Cal (roughing), 10:19; Chase Cal (checking from behind), 10:35; Sanheim Cal (tripping), 11:38; Ralph Edm (interference), 14:32; Galbraith Cal (major-fighting, game - coach), 16:52; Ralph Edm (major-fighting, game misconduct), 16:52; Lang Cal (roughing), 17:03; Baddock Edm (roughing), 17:03.

2nd Period
6, Edmonton, Corbett 2 (Mayo, Kieser), 5:56.
7, Edmonton, Pollock 1 (Samuelsson, Sautner), 11:51 (PP).
Penalties-Thrower Cal (major-fighting), 2:22; Baddock Edm (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 2:22; Virtanen Cal (slashing), 3:07; Jones Cal (inter. on goaltender), 7:36; Rissling Cal (charging), 11:31; Sautner Edm (delay of game), 13:47.

3rd Period
8, Calgary, Chase 1 (Brooks, Helgesen), 6:34.
9, Calgary, Chase 2 (Clayton, Helgesen), 11:29.
10, Edmonton, Samuelsson 1 (Pollock, Irving), 17:48 (PP).
Penalties-Irving Edm (interference), 7:34; Rissling Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:25; Baddock Edm (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:25; Chase Cal (high sticking, high sticking), 14:28; Eller Edm (embellishment), 18:36.

Shots on Goal
Calgary 10-10-10-30. Edmonton 18-10-10-38.
Power Play Opportunities
Calgary 1 / 6; Edmonton 5 / 10.
Goalies
Calgary, Driedger 0-1-0-0 (26 shots-20 saves); Shields 0-0-0-0 (12 shots-11 saves). Edmonton, Jarry 1-0-0-0 (30 shots-27 saves).
A-9,550
Referees-Fraser Lawrence (10), Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Chris Carlson (92), Darren Spurgeon (61).