The Calgary Hitmen snapped the Prince George Cougars' string of road game perfection Saturday night in Calgary.
Winnipeg Jets draft pick Jordy Stallard blasted a one-timer past goalie Nick McBride on the power play, 3:32 into overtime, to give the Hitmen a 3-2 win over the Cougars, who came into the game having won their first eight road games this season, all in regulation time.
Cody Porter made the difference in the Hitmen nets, stopping 39 shots for his fourth win of the season as the Hitmen improved their record to 5-5-1-0. Porter made four saves in overtime before the Cougars got into penalty trouble when Jared Bethune was caught slashing with two minute left on the five-minute OT session.
Beck Malenstyn and Andrei Grishakov, with his first Western Hockey League goal, also scored for the Hitmen. Malenstyn's goal came 11:24 into the second period. Grishakov gave the Hitmen their first lead, 1:23 into the third period. The 17-year-old Russian rookie scored on a rebound while Cougars winger Jesse Gabrielle was serving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Yan Khomenko opened the scoring for the Cats 5:58 into the game with a shot from the far side boards. Josh Curtis forced overtime when he tied the game, 8:55 into the third period, a shot that slipped through Porter's five-hole
The Hitmen, who also had four shots in overtime, were outshot 41-26.
Calgary went 2-for-5 on the power play while the Cougars were scoreless in five opportunities.
As a result of the overtime loss, the Cougars came home with five of a possible six points on their three-game trip. The league-leading Cougars (13-2-2-0) started their trip Cranbrook Wednesday with a 5-2 win over the Kootenay Ice, then beat Lethbridge Hurricanes 2-1 Friday. They host the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday at CN Centre.
