Hitmen Handle Hurricanes 6-1
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes played game three of a four game homestand on Saturday night as they were handed a 6-1 loss by the Calgary Hitmen.
It was a fast-paced first period that didn’t see a whistle until the Hitmen opened the scoring at the 5:38 mark as Andrew Fyten snapped home his fifth of the year beating Stuart Skinner five-hole on a partial two-on-one to make it 1-0. The ‘Canes equalized as Jordy Bellerive extended his goal-scoring streak to six straight games as he beat Nick Schneider over the glove on a rebound to make it 1-1; Tate Olson and Lane Zablocki earned the assists on the goal. Fyten struck again just 2:29 later on another odd-man rush beating Skinner over the glove to put Calgary ahead 2-1 after twenty minutes of play. Shots were even at 11-11 in the first period.
The wheels fell off in the second period for the Hurricanes as they surrendered three goals in the first nine minutes of the period. Luke Coleman snapped home his eighth of the season beating Skinner five-hole just 1:35 into the period to make it 3-1 Calgary. The Hitmen added another just 4:59 later as Jameson Murray was credited with his first of the season as Bellerive put the puck into his own net. Calgary added another as Riley Stotts buried a rebound to make it 5-1 ending the night of Skinner who allowed five goals on 18 shots; Reece Klassen replaced Skinner stopping the six shots he faced, including a Jakob Stukel penalty shot with just 30 seconds left in the period as Calgary held a four goal lead after forty minutes of play.
The Hurricanes outshot the Hitmen 15-11 in the third period in hopes of a come-back, but could not solve Calgary’s netminder Schneider who made 37 saves in the game. The Hitmen added another goal late in the game as Cael Zimmerman scored on the power play with under a minute left in the game to make it a 6-1 final.
The ‘Canes outshot the Hitmen 38-34 in the game. Lethbridge went 0/2 on the power play and 2/3 on the penalty kill.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Hitmen – #26 Andrew Fyten (2 goals)
2) Hitmen – #24 Luke Coleman (1 goal, 1 assist)
3) Hitmen – #31 Nick Schneider (37 saves, 1 assist)
The loss was the ‘Canes second straight defeat as they fall to 1-16-0-0 when trailing after two periods of play this year. The ‘Canes record drops to 17-19-3-0 on the season and 11-8-2-0 at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes will complete the four-game homestand on Tuesday as they welcome the Red Deer Rebels in the first of a home-and-home with their Central Division rivals. Tickets for the game can be purchased online, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre.
(Photo Credit: Colin Moreland)
