Hurricanes Come From Behind to Defeat Blazers 5-4 in a Shootout
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes ended a three-game losing streak on Friday with a come-from-behind 4-3 shootout win over the Kamloops Blazers at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
It was the final of a two-game homestand for the Hurricanes who entered with a 20-6-1-0 record at home this season as they welcome the Blazers for the first time since February 24, 2023. Kamloops jumped out to an early start as they opened the scoring at the 7:45 mark when Nathan Behm had a wrist-shot deflected off a body and by Jackson Unger to make it 1-0. The Blazers struck again just 35-seocnds later when Oren Shtrom had a shot bounce off a defender and in giving Kamloops a 2-0 lead just 8:20 into the contest. Lethbridge answered back late in the period as Tristen Doyle ended a 23-game goal drought as he wired home his fourth goal of the year to make it a 2-1 game after twenty minutes; Brayden Yager and Carsen Adair earned the helpers on the goal. The Hurricanes outshot the Blazers 8-7 in the first period.
The ‘Canes came out flying to open the second period looking for a tying goal. Luke Cozens had a great chance to tie the game on a partial breakaway but was interfered with resulting his first career penalty shot just over five-minutes into the period, but on the penalty shot Cozens ripped a shot wide of the goal to keep it 2-1. Kamloops pressed back with a pair of great chances to add to their lead when Shtrom was robbed by Unger who reached out with his left leg to rob the overage forward of his second goal of the game on a point-blank chance before Logan McCutcheon pulled the puck off the goal line to keep it a one goal game. Late in the period, the Blazers eventually added to their lead when Josh Kelly slipped a trickler through the legs of the ‘Canes netminder for his fifth goal to make it 3-1 Blazers after forty minutes of play. Lethbridge outshot Kamloops 7-6 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the ‘Canes cut the lead to one-goal for the second time as Kooper Gizowski cashed in a rebound goal for his 13th of the season just 2:41 into the period to extend a personal point streak to six-straight games making it a 3-2 game; Cozens and Vojtech Port picked up the assists on the goal. The ‘Canes had a great chance to tie the game on a Brayden Edwards breakaway, but while being harassed from behind, the overager put a backhand shot just by the post. Just passed the half-way point of the period, the Blazers pulled back in front by a pair as Behm scored his second of the night – and team-leading 29th goal of the season – to make it a 4-2 game with 9:14 remaining in regulation. The Hurricanes pulled the goaltender late in the game and would claw to within a goal when Edwards redirected home his 24th goal on a Noah Chadwick point shot to make it 4-3 with exactly one-minute remaining in the the third period; McCutcheon earned the second assist on the goal. Lethbridge called their timeout and pull the goaltender again, and for the second time, the ‘Canes scored with the extra attacker when Edwards tipped home his second goal just 29-seconds later to tie the game at 4-4; Yager and McCutcheon collected the assists on the equalizing goal that forced overtime. The ‘Canes held the edge in shots 12-11 in the third period.
The ‘Canes carried the play in the overtime period outshooting the Blazers 4-3. Lethbridge’s best chance to end the game came when Gizowski centered a pass to McCutcheon who was driving the net on the back door, but he was stopped by Logan Edmonstone to keep the game alive. Shane Smith had a great look from the high slot late in the overtime, but ripped a shot wide of the goal as the game went to a shootout.
In the shootout, Yager and Jordan Keller were both stopped in the first round before Edwards and Behm were denied in the second round. Lethbridge’s Smith struck to start the third round beating Edmonstone on the glove side from the left side before Unger turned aside Tommy Lafreniere to give the Hurricanes the come-from-behind 5-4 shootout victory.
The Hurricanes outshot the Blazers 32-27 in the game. Lethbridge and Kamloops both went 0/2 on the power play in the game.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #19 Brayden Edwards (2 goals)
2) Blazers – #14 Nathan Behm (2 goals)
3) Blazers – #18 Harrison Brunicke (1 assist)
The win for the Hurricanes was their sixth win this season when trailing after forty minutes as they ended a three-game losing streak as they improved to 21-6-1-0 on home ice this season. Lethbridge improved to 35-19-2-1 on the season as their record lifted to 2-1-1-0 against BC Division opponents.
The Hurricanes will open a four-game East Division road trip on Tuesday when they visit the Saskatoon Blades at SaskTel Centre at 6:00pm MT before visiting Prince Albert, Brandon and Regina on their trip. Lethbridge will return to the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Wednesday, March 5th when they welcome the Kelowna Rockets. 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.
