Hurricanes Edge Warriors in Homestand Opener
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes returned to the win column on Friday with a 4-3 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
Lethbridge, who entered with a 3-1-0-0 record, opened a four-game homestand against the defending Western Hockey League Champion Moose Jaw Warriors. The Hurricanes had a great start to the game with an early scoring chance just 10-seconds in when Miguel Marques had a glorious chance off the right wing but Jackson Unger made an early save. Moose Jaw struck first at the 4:13 mark when Noah Degenstein tipped home his first goal of the season thru the legs of Brady Smith to make it 1-0 Warriors. Just over two-minutes later, the Warriors doubled their lead when Brayden Yager struck for his first goal of the season in his return from the Winnipeg Jets to make it 2-0. Lethbridge continued to pepper Moose Jaw with shots would cut the lead in half as Brayden Edwards tipped home his second goal of the season; Logan Wormald and Miguel Marques drew the assists on the goal. With 1:20 remaining in the period, the ‘Canes tied the game as Edwards redirected home his second goal of the period to tie the game 2-2; Tristen Doyle and Noah Chadwick picked up the helpers as the game was even after twenty minutes. Lethbridge outshot Moose Jaw 19-8 in the opening period.
The Warriors pushed in the second period with a trio of early power play opportunities but couldn’t solve Smith who was terrific turning aside all 10 shots he faced in the middle frame. Moose Jaw’s best chance came on the man advantage on a cross-seam pass and Smith lunged over to make an arm save off Yager to keep it a 2-2 tie. Lethbridge had a glorious opportunity to pull ahead as Wormald was hauled down on a breakaway resulting in a penalty shot, but he was unable to beat Unger on the one-on-one as the game remained tied 2-2 after two periods. The Warriors held the edge in shots 10-8 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the Hurricanes took their first lead just 59-seconds into the period as Wormald wired home his second goal of the season while shorthanded to put Lethbridge ahead 3-2; Logan McCutcheon and Will Sharpe earned the assists on the go-ahead goal. The shorthanded marker was the ‘Canes second of the season, marking their season total from all of the 2023-2024 season. At the 11:05 mark, the Hurricanes doubled their lead as Leo Braillard buried his team-leading fourth goal of the season on a power play to make it 4-2; Marques and Wormald credited with the assists on the insurance marker. Before the period was out, the Warriors cut the lead to one with a power play goal of their own when Yager snapped home his second goal of the game with 3:44 remaining in the contest to make it 4-3. Moose Jaw pulled the goaltender but failed to generate any zone time to find an equalizing goal as Lethbridge hung on to the one-goal victory.
The Hurricanes set a season-high outshooting the Warriors 41-22 in the contest. Lethbridge went 2/6 on the power play while Moose Jaw was 1/5 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #19 Brayden Edwards (2 goals)
2) ‘Canes – #18 Logan Wormald (1 goal, 2 assists)
3) ‘Canes – #31 Brady Smith (19-saves)
The win for the Hurricanes improved their record to 4-1-0-0 on the season as they stayed perfect at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena improving their home-ice record to 3-0-0-0. Lethbridge is now 2-0-0-0 against East Division opponents this season.
The Hurricanes will continue a four-game homestand on Friday, October 11th when they welcome the Vancouver Giants before hosting the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday, October 12th. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Yates Memorial Theatre or VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca.
