It wasn’t exactly the playoff tune-up they were looking for.
In fact, it was more of a tune-down.
But the Calgary Hitmen, who gassed a three-goal third-period lead, ended up claiming the meaningless ‘W’ in Sunday’s 6-5 shootout victory over the visiting Kootenay Ice.
Russian import Radel Fazleev acknowledged it wasn’t the tight-checking, efficient kind of game that will be needed when the Hitmen open the first round of the playoffs on Friday in Red Deer (7 p.m., Sportsnet 960 The Fan).
“It was crazy,” Fazleev said. “Maybe it was a good kick before the playoffs for us.