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Hitmen survive back-and-forth contest, beat Tigers 7-5

Nov 2, 2018 | 9:49 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A wild, topsy-turvy, roller-coaster of a game ultimately ended in favour of the home team.

It seemed every goal the Calgary Hitmen through on the scoreboard had an answer from the Medicine Hat Tigers. That theme finally changed late in the third period, with James Malm’s first as a Hitmen, on route to a 7-5 victory over the reigning Central Division champions.

Medicine Hat falls to 8-7-0-2 this season, while the Calgary Hitmen, who snap a three-game losing streak with the victory, improve to 5-9-2-0.

The back-and-forth affair began just 40 seconds into the game; Vladislav Yeryomenko’s first of the season. Eric Van Impe answered back crossing the midway mark of the frame to lock it 1-1, but Mark Kastelic’s power-play marker regained the Hitmen lead before the first intermission.

1:31 into the second, Hayden Ostir squared the contest on a man-advantage goal of his own, followed closely by Tye Carriere’s first of the season to make it 3-2 Hitmen.

But like clock-work, Dylan MacPherson answered back, scoring his first of the year to lock it up 3-3.

With just under three minutes to go in the second, Egor Zamula gave the Hitmen their fourth lead of the match with his second of the season.

Without any doubt, Tyler Preziuso scored just 1:28 into the third period, extending his point streak to eight games, and tying the game at 4-4.

Jake Kryski’s go-ahead goal at the 10:11 mark gave Calgary a short-lived lead, because Cole Clayton followed up about two minutes later to square the game 5-5.

Malm, who was acquired by the Hitmen in a trade with the Vancouver Giants earlier this week, tallied the Hitmen’s sixth goal of the game with 1:18 to play. That was the only goal the Tigers didn’t have an answer for, as Kastelic notched an empty-netter, his second of the night, 13 seconds later. That sealed the deal 7-5 for the Hitmen.

These two are right back at it Sunday to finish off a home-and-home series at the Canalta Centre. Puck drop is 6:00 p.m.