Eagles rally falls short

The Calgary Canucks scored four goals in the opening six minutes and hung on for a 7-5 victory over the Canmore Eagles in Game 4 of their Alberta Junior Hockey League playoff series on Wednesday (March 25).

The home-ice victory ties the South Division best-of-seven, semifinal series at two wins apiece. Nicholas Anisimovicz recorded a hat trick for the Canucks. Will Lutic and Hudson Landmark each scored twice for the Eagles.

In other playoff games Wednesday, Grande Prairie Storm finished off a four-game sweep of the Lloydminster Bobcats in their North Division semifinal series with a 5-3 victory, while in the other North semifinal, Whitecourt Wolverines rallied back from  a 3-0 deficit for a 5-3 win over the Fort McMurray Oil Barons to take a 3-1 series lead. In the other South semifinal, Camrose Kodiaks shutout the Drumheller Dragons 6-0 for a 3-1 series lead.

In Calgary, Malachi Freh (1) opened the scoring just 23 seconds into the contest. The goal was allowed to stand despite the issue of the Canucks having the wrong starting lineup on the ice.

The Canucks were given a penalty for the lineup infraction but answered with a shorthanded goal from Anisimovicz (2) at 1:45. Riley Bracko then scored on the power-play at 4:53. Anisimoviz (3) scored again at 5:42, giving the Canucks a 4-0 lead. That would be the end of the night for Canmore goaltender Alex Scheiwiller, who faced just seven shots.

Hudson Landmark (1) would put Canmore on the board just 17 seconds later.

Dryden Tomkow answered that goal with his own at 7:21 for a 5-1 Calgary lead.

Lutic (2) scored a power-play goal at 18:51 to close out the scoring in the opening period.

The teams exchanged goals in middle frame with Hudson Landmark (2) scoring at 2:13 for Canmore and Simon Bowland (1) at 19:25 for Calgary.

The Eagles had to turn to protectors of the post in the middle frame as Canuck netminder Noah Nelson, making his first appearance in the series, repeatedly dislodged the left side post under constant pressure from the Eagles in the middle period. In the case of Landmark’s goal, Cohen Daoust placed the goal back in place a couple of seconds before Landmark’s shot knifed between goaltender and that particular post.

There were no post issues when Canmore goaltenders were guarding the same goal in the first and third periods.

The Eagles would make it a one-goal game in the third period on a second power-play goal by Lutic (3) at 12:34 followed by Tkachuk’s second of the game and series at 15:31.

Anisimovicz (4) completed his hat trick into an empty net at 19:14, ensuring the Eagles would fall short in their comeback bid.

Canmore outshot Calgary 42-31 with Hudson Sedo replacing Scheiwiller in the Eagles’ net.

On the power play, Canmore went 2-for-7 and Calgary was 1-for-4.

Landmark also picked up one assist and Tkachuk had two helpers as each player finished with three points. Ryder Dembo picked up two assists.

Lutic and Whitecourt’s Jalen Bianchet, who led the league in scoring during the regular season, are the top playoff producers each with three goals and seven points.

The result ensured this series will go six games. Game 5 is at the Canmore Recreation Centre on Friday, March 27, beginning at 7 p.m.

Around the league:

Connor Knorr stopped 23 shots and his teammates scored three goals in each of the first two periods to take a commanding 3-1 series lead as No. 3 Camrose defeated No. 2 Drumheller. Brandon DeHaas had one goal and two assists. The Dragons have been blanked twice in this series, with Carter Capton getting the first shutout in Game 2.

Colin Doherty scored two goals in leading No. 2 Grande Prairie to a four-game sweep of No. 3 Lloydminster. The Storm now await the winner of the other North semifinal series.

No. 1 Whitecourt overturned a 3-0 third-period deficit with a five-goal third period to take a 3-1 series lead on No. 4 Fort McMurray. Xander Schulte scored two of those goals and assisted on a third goal. Ryan Arnold scored twice for the Oil Barons, who led 3-0 after 40 minutes.

Game 1 – Calgary 5 at Canmore 2

Game 2 – Calgary 2 at Canmore 3

Game 3 – Canmore 5 at Calgary 2

Game 4 – Canmore 5 at Calgary 7

(Series tied 2-2)

Game 5 – Calgary at Canmore, Friday, March 27 (Canmore Recreation Centre, 7 p.m.)

Game 6 – Canmore at Calgary, Sunday, March 29 (Ken Bracko Arena, 5 p.m.)

(If necessary)

Game 7 – Calgary at Canmore, Tuesday, March 31 (Canmore Recreation Centre, 7 p.m.)

All games are available for viewing through a Flohockey subscription available online at flohockey.tv or through your Prime Video account.