Jones powers Hitmen to road victory

Edgars Kulda and the Edmonton Oil Kings got their big moment out of the way quickly. Two minutes into Friday’s Teddy Bear Toss game against the Calgary Hitmen, the Latvian winger connected to send 10,835 fuzzy creatures flying from a crowd of 12,575 at Rexall Place in support of Santas Anonymous in Edmonton.

But, in the end, the Hitmen spoiled the party with a 5-2 dumping of the hosts thanks to a pair of third period goals from Zane Jones, including the game winner.

The victory was Calgary’s third straight and — combined with a Prince Albert Raiders loss to Kootenay Friday — moved them into first in the Eastern Conference and Central Division.

You can also chalk another one up for Hitmen in the Western Hockey League-version of the Battle of Alberta. Calgary has won all four meetings between the clubs this season including a 4-1 win at Edmonton on Sept. 28, a 6-5 overtime decision at Calgary on Oct. 7, and a 5-4 shootout at Edmonton on Oct. 12.

The rivalry hits the ice again tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome (7 p.m.; Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

“Edmonton has a great hockey team and we’ve had four really close games with them,” said Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson. “Either team could have easily won.”

Following the Teddy-trigger, 2013 NHL draft prospect Curtis Lazar made it 2-0 on a power play. But the unfazed Hitmen continued to buzz, scoring four unanswered goals.

Captain Cody Sylvester put Calgary on the board before the end of the first frame. Meanwhile, in a tighter second period, St. Albert boy Carson Samoridny knotted the score 2-2 for the Hitmen with a short-handed goal on a momentum changing threeon-one chance.

“We didn’t seem to be very sharp at the start (Friday) but Driegs (goaltender Chris Driedger) made some good saves for us to keep us in it and Cody was able to score. It wasn’t just the Teddy Bear toss, Edmonton was coming at us pretty hard.

“They could have easily had a couple more goals in the first period but some guys stepped up for us and played well.”

Pavlo Padakin iced the win with an empty netter with less than a minute left in the third. Calgary Flames draft pick Laurent Brossoit, who’ll be one of four goalies at the Canadian world junior camp next week, made 36 stops for the Oil Kings ... Hitmen netminder Chris Driedger made 34 saves.

Friday also improved Calgary’s sparkling road record to 11-1-0-1 and they have now won 12 of the past 14.

Edmonton, who also had 41 points heading into Friday, dropped to 18-7-2-3.