Hurricanes Bump Slump with 5-1 Win Over Wild
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes ended a three-game homestand on Friday with a 5-1 win over the Wenatchee Wild at the ENMAX Centre.
It was the first time and only meeting of the season between the Hurricanes and Wild – who entered on an eight-game winning streak while the ‘Canes who entered on a four-game home losing streak. Lethbridge had a great start to the game outshooting Wenatchee 7-3 in the opening 10 minutes. The ‘Canes had a pair of great chances including a point-blank chance by Leo Braillard who was stopped by Wild goaltender Brendan Gee to keep the game scoreless. The Hurricanes opened the scoring on a breakaway goal by Miguel Marques who roofed a back-hand for his fifth of the season at the 13:59 mark to make it 1-0; Braillard earned the only assist on the goal. Shots were even 9-9 in the first period.
Early in the second period, the Wild tied the game on a power play goal by Evan Friesen who wired home his seventh goal of the year just 41-seconds into the frame to make the score 1-1; Graham Sward and Kenta Isogai picked up the assists on the equalizer. Just under three-minutes later, the Hurricanes pulled back in front as Blake Swetlikoff ended a six-game goal drought rifling home his second of the season beating Gee on a short-side shot to make it 2-1; Trae Wilke and Dustin Renas were credited with the assists. Lethbridge added to their advantage when Kooper Gizowski snapped home his seventh of the season – and sixth goal in seven games – on a power play to give the ‘Canes a 3-1 lead; Tristen Doyle and Logan McCutcheon earned the assists on the goal as the Hurricanes held a two-goal lead after forty minutes of play. Shots favoured Wenatchee 11-9 in the second period.
Wenatchee came out flying to open the third period as they peppered Harrison Meneghin in the final twenty minutes. The Wild had a trio of power plays in the third, which included a man advantage that carried over from the end of the second period but couldn’t solve Meneghin who was brilliant turning aside all 22-shots Wenatchee fired on goal in the stanza. Lethbridge added a pair of late goals as Marques potted an empty-net goal with 1:06 remaining for his second of the game before Gizowski snapped home his second of the night – and eighth of the season – with just 2.1 seconds left in the game; Elias Knoester and Meneghin picked up the assists on the goal which made it a 5-1 final in favour of the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes were outshot 22-4 in the third period and 42-22 in the contest. Lethbridge was 1/2 on the power play while Wenatchee went 1/5 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #35 Harrison Meneghin (41-saves, 1 assist)
2) Wild – #10 Evan Friesen (1 goal)
3) ‘Canes – #26 Blake Swetlikoff (1 goal)
The victory for the Hurricanes ended a four-game home losing streak while improving their home record to 6-3-2-0 on the season. Lethbridge improved to 10-8-2-0 on the year as they ended Wenatchee’s eight-game winning streak. The ‘Canes improved to 2-2-0-0 against US Division opponents this season.
The Hurricanes will open a five-game road trip next Friday when they visit the Victoria Royals at the Save-On Foods Memorial Centre at 8:00pm MT before visiting the Vancouver Giants on Saturday. Lethbridge will return to the ENMAX Centre on Wednesday, November 29th when they welcome the Calgary Hitmen at 7:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.
