Hurricanes Clinch Playoff Spot with Comeback Win in Red Deer
Red Deer, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes continued a three-in-three weekend on Saturday with a come-from-behind 3-2 overtime win over the Red Deer Rebels at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
It marked the final meeting of the regular season between the ‘Canes and Rebels. Lethbridge looked for their first road victory this season in Red Deer as they played a simple road period to open the game. The Hurricanes had an early power play when Evan Smith for the Rebels was assessed a tripping penalty; the ‘Canes had a few good looks but couldn’t solve Rhett Stoesser as the game remained scoreless. Brady Smith – who made his third start in the last three games for the Hurricanes – was dialed early as he made a pair of great saves with his best-off Samuel Drancak as he reached out with the glove to keep the game tied. Red Deer had a late power play chance in the period but couldn’t find an opener as the game was scoreless after one period of play. Red Deer outshot Lethbridge 9-4 in the first period.
The teams both had more jump in the middle frame as they traded chances early. Red Deer opened the scoring at the 7:22 mark of the second period as Drancak buried a rebound passed Smith to make it a 1-0 Rebel lead; Kalan Lind and Derek Thurston earned the assists on the goal. Just 1:22 later, the ‘Canes responded to tie the game when Will Sharpe pinched in snapped home his fourth goal of the season on a rebound off the pad of Stoesser to make it a 1-1 game; Kooper Gizowski and Braeden Wynne drew the helpers on the goal. The Rebels pulled back in front on a two-on-one goal when Matthew Gard ripped home his seventh of the season with 7:37 remaining in the period to give Red Deer a 2-1 lead. Lethbridge’s Landen Ward was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for a checking to the head penalty late in the second period as Red Deer would have a lengthy power play to open the third period. Shots were even 13-13 in the middle frame.
The Rebels opened the third period with three minutes of power play time on the major penalty to Ward. Red Deer pressed to add to their lead with the best chance coming for Mats Lindgren who was set up back door but Smith slid across to make a great pad save to keep it a one-goal game. The ‘Canes dominated the third period in hopes of finding and equalizer; Noah Chadwick had a great chance as he wired a shot off the crossbar behind Stoesser. Chadwick had another great look on a power play midway through the period, but was stopped by the Rebel netminder. Late in the game, the Hurricanes pulled the goaltender and finally tied the game when Miguel Marques banked a shot off the goaltender and in with 1:55 remaining for his 28th goal of the season to make it a 2-2 game; Chadwick and Logan McCutcheon earned the assists on the goal to force overtime. Lethbridge outshot Red Deer 15-8 in the third period.
The teams traded chances in the extra frame. Lethbridge had a great look on the first shift when Wormald ripped a shot from the high-slot off the goal post. Red Deer pressed back on the very next shift but Smith reached back to pull a puck off the goal line to keep the game going. The Hurricanes found a winner at the 2:35 mark when Chadwick redirected home his 12th goal of the season – and third overtime winner of the year to lift the ‘Canes to the comeback 3-2 victory; Wormald drew the lone assist on the goal.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #8 Noah Chadwick (1 goal, 1 assist)
2) ‘Canes – #31 Brady Smith (31-saves)
3) Rebels – #2 Derek Thurston (1 assist)
The win for the Hurricanes was their second-straight defeat as it improved their record to 8-3-0-0 in their last 11 games while it was their fifth-straight road victory. The ‘Canes road record improved to 14-18-0-0 on the season as their overall record lifted to 32-28-5-0 on the season. Lethbridge finished the season with a 4-2-0-0 record against Red Deer. The victory also officially clinched a playoff berth in the 2024 WHL Playoffs for the Hurricanes. The post-season berth marks the eighth-straight season where the ‘Canes have qualified for the WHL playoffs.
The Hurricanes will end their three-in-three weekend on Sunday at 4:00pm against Calgary Hitmen at Scotiabank Saddledome. Lethbridge will return to the ENMAX Centre on Friday, March 22nd when they welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers at 7:00pm. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.