The Calgary Hitmen got a 37-save performance from Jack McNaughton and rode that to a 5-2 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes to tie the best of seven series up at 2-2. Ryder Korczak had three assists in the win to help pace his team. Carl Tetachuk did all he could in a losing cause. He ended the night with 30 saves.
This pivotal game began with plenty of early stops and stars. It was the Hurricanes getting the first early chance as Ty Prefontaine found himself on a break but rang it off the post. The Hitmen responded quickly to that chance with a heavy forecheck, which created a turnover. It was Riley Stotts who then fired one by Tetachuk to break the ice and give the home side a 1-0 lead early. Egor Zamula and Ryder Korczak were credited with the assists.
Emotions then came to the surface after the goal as the teams skated four-on-four a couple of times and each team also received power plays but neither could convert. The highlight of the sequence was a huge back door stop by McNaughton. That save kept it a one-goal game heading into the break.
The Hurricanes started the second period with a bang. Jake Elmer found the back of the net for his first of the playoffs tying the game at 1-1. The lone assist was given to Alex Cotton. The teams then went on the trade chances as things opened up a bit in the period before the Hitmen regained their lead.
They did so off a scramble in front. James Malm found the net for his first of the playoffs. His marker restored the one-goal lead at 2-1.
The Hurricanes pushed back but McNaughton came up huge including stopping Taylor Ross on a 2-on-1. The visitors continued to push and reaped the reward on the power play. Dylan Cozens rushed up the ice and dished it to Elmer who found Logan Barlage. The former Swift Current Broncos first round pick made no mistake and tied the game. Then the Hitmen tried quickly to answer but Tetachuk robbed Kaden Elder from the slot.
Lethbridge began the third period with guns a blazing, outshooting Calgary 5-0 and just missing on a couple of chances. The Hitmen weathered the storm and then took the lead 1:44 into the final frame. Josh Prokop found the back of the net and that would be followed by a Vladislav Yeryomenko goal just three and a half minutes later as the home side took over this game.
The story from there on out was the play of the netminder. McNaughton stood tall and denied the Hurricanes at every turn including on back-to-back power plays. The Hurricanes pulled Tetachuk in favour of an extra attacker but the move did not pay off as Luke Coleman iced the game and gave the Hitmen a 5-2 win. The victory evens the series 2-2. Final shots on the night would read 39-35 for Lethbridge.
Game 5 will be back in Lethbridge on Saturday at the Nicholas Sheran Ice Centre.
