Cozens Seven-Point Night Leads Hurricanes to Wild 8-7 Victory Over Wheat Kings
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes ended a four-game homestand with a wild 8-7 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
The Hurricanes entered with a 1-2-0-0 record through their first three-games of their homestand after suffering a 2-1 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday. The night didn’t start well for the ‘Canes as Brandon jumped out to an early 2-0 lead just 2:03 into the game with two goals in 22-seconds by Dylan Ronald and Brady Turko as the Wheat Kings scored on their first two shots of the game. Lethbridge responded with two goals on their first two shots as Shane Smith scored his 11th goal of the season at the 3:40 mark on a power play to make it a 2-1 game; Nathan Maloney and Luke Cozens picked up the helpers on the goal. The ‘Canes tied the game when Cozens buried his first of two goals on what turned into an historic night for the Whitehorse product tying the game 2-2 at the 7:26 mark. Lethbridge kept their foot on the gas taking the lead just over two-minutes later when Logan Wormald scored on a delayed penalty making it a 3-2 contest; Cozens and Daneault earned the helpers on the goal. The ‘Canes struck for a pair of five-on-three power play goals by Owen Berge just 56-seconds apart to put the Hurricanes ahead 5-2 with five unanswered goals – it marked the first multi-goal game of his career. Brandon scored three quick goals to end the period as Ronald, Luke Mistelbacher and Caleb Hadland all tallied in a span of two-minutes and 19-seconds to tie the game 5-5 after twenty minutes of play. Shots in the first period favoured Brandon 14-10 in the opening frame.
The teams combined for four goals in the middle frame as the fireworks continued. Lethbridge pulled in front at the 10:18 mark when Tomas Malinek wired home a slapshot from the blueline for his first WHL goal to give the ‘Canes a 6-5 lead; Cozens and Brayden Smith picked up the assists on the goal. Brandon answered less than a minute later when Mistelbacher buried his second goal of the game to tie the game 6-6; Hadland and Jaxon Jacobson were credited with the assist on the goal. Lethbridge answered right back as just 13-seconds after Brandon tied the game, Cozens scored his second goal of the night – and sixth point of the game – to give Lethbridge a 7-6 advantage. The onslaught of goals continued when Nicholas Johnson beat Koen Cleaver with a slapshot to tie the game 7-7 with 8:06 remaining in the second period; that was the end of the night of Cleaver who allowed seven goals on 20 shots as he was replaced by Brody Rotar marking the fourth goaltender to play in the game after Filip Ruzicka replaced Jayden Kraus in the first period. The Hurricanes outshot the Wheat Kings 12-7 in the middle period as the game was tied 7-7 after forty minutes of play.
In the third period, the Wheat Kings outshot the Hurricanes 16-6. Lethbridge pulled in front at the 3:38 mark when Wormald potted his second goal of the game – and ninth of the season – on a two-on-one slipping a shot through the legs of Ruzicka to give the ‘Canes an 8-7 lead; Daneault and Cozens picked up the assists as Cozens potted his career-high seventh point of the night. Brandon peppered Rotar in the ‘Canes crease, but the rookie netminder stopped all 17-shots he saw in relief for his first WHL victory as the Hurricanes hung on for the wild 8-7 win to end the homestand on a high.
The Hurricanes were outshot 37-28 in the game by the Wheat Kings. Lethbridge went 3/7 on the power play while Brandon was 0/2 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #11 Luke Cozens (2 goals, 5 assists)
2) ‘Canes – #18 Logan Wormald (2 goals, 2 assists)
3) ‘Canes – #16 Easton Daneault (4 assists)
The win for the Hurricanes was their second victory in their last three games as they ended four-game homestand with a 2-2-0-0 record. Lethbridge’s home record improved to 3-7-0-1 on home ice while their overall record lifted to 5-13-0-1 on the year.
NOTES:
- Cozens seven-point night marked the third most points in a single game in Hurricanes history while becoming the first ‘Canes to record a seven-point game since Mitch Fadden (5g-2a) on March 17th/2007 while finishing three points shy of the WHL record of 10-points in a single game
- The line of Cozens, Wormald and Daneault combined for 15 points in the win
- Rotar registered his first WHL win with 17-saves in relief
- It was a season-high eight goals for the Hurricanes
- Wormald matched a career-high with four points in the game
- Daneault set a new career-high with four points
The Hurricanes open a seven-game road swing on Saturday as they visit the Swift Current Broncos at 6:00pm MT before embarking on a six-game BC Division trip. Lethbridge returns to the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Friday, November 29th when they welcome the Moose Jaw Warriors at 7:00pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting the VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca.
