Hurricanes Comeback Falls Short in Loss to Tigers
Medicine Hat, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes played the middle a three-in-three weekend on Saturday with a 3-2 loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers at Co-op Place.
It marked the first of a home-and-home set between the Hurricanes and Tigers and the third meeting of the season. Cohen Pentney made his Western Hockey League debut in the contest. Lethbridge had a great first period as they out-chanced Medicine Hat and outshot them 13-6 in the frame. The Tigers had a great chance early to open the scoring, but Koen Cleaver – who made his 10th appearance of the season – made a great blocker save charging out to stop Ethan Neutens. Lethbridge had a breakaway when Logan Wormald was sprung free and made a great move to the backhand, but Jordan Switzer stretched out with his left leg to make a miraculous save keeping the game scoreless after twenty minutes of play.
The game opened up in the second period with three power play opportunities for each team. Medicine Hat struck first with a man advantage goal by Mathew Ward who buried his seventh goal of the season on a one-timer to make it 1-0; Andrew Basha Hunter St. Martin earned the assists on the goal. Lethbridge came close to tying the game with a power play of their one as a slapshot by Will Sharpe was ripped off the goal post. The Tigers kept pressing in the middle frame and had a glorious opportunity on a three-on-one but Cleaver made a remarkable blocker save stretching across to rob Bryce Pickford of a 2-0 goal. The parade of penalties continued, however, as the Tigers went back to the power play and after a Ryder Ritchie goal post, St. Martin centered a pass that deflected off a Hurricane defender and into the net to make it 2-0 Medicine Hat. Lethbridge had a late power play of their own but couldn’t solve Switzer as the Tigers held the two-goal lead after two periods. Shots favoured Medicine Hat 11-8 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the Hurricanes were tasked with another penalty kill, but this time they kept the Tigers at bay. Lethbridge shortly after the kill was given a power play of their own as Pentney drew an interference call. The ‘Canes came close to getting on the board on the man advantage as Noah Chadwick wired a one-timer that was turned aside by Switzer. The Hurricanes finally got on the board with the man advantage on their fifth opportunity as Hayden Pakkala swatted home a rebound for his seventh goal – and fifth goal in his last eight games – to make it a 2-1 game with 10:20 remaining in the third; Will Sharpe and Kooper Gizowski earned the assists on the goal. Medicine Hat restored their two-goal lead at the 14:08 mark as Ryder Ritchie set up Oasiz Wiesblatt on an in-tight breakaway as he lifted home his 14th goal to make it a 3-1 game. Lethbridge pulled the goaltender with a late power play and pulled back within a foal with 2:34 remaining in the game as Chadwick beat a screened goaltender for his eighth goal of the season to make it 3-2; Logan McCutcheon and Trae Johnson earned the assists on the goal. The Hurricanes pulled the goaltender again, but failed to find an equalizer as the Tigers hung for the 3-2 victory.
The Hurricanes outshot the Tigers 13-7 in the third period and 34-24 in the game. Lethbridge went 2/6 on the power play while Medicine Hat was 2/4 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Tigers – #16 Hunter St. Martin (1 goal, 1 assist)
2) Tigers – #34 Andrew Basha (2 assists)
3) ‘Canes – #30 Koen Cleaver (21-saves)
The loss for the Hurricanes ended a season-long four-game winning streak as they fell to 4-1-0-0 in the month of December. Lethbridge fell to 4-9-0-1 on the road this season as the defeat was their sixth-straight loss away from home. The ‘Canes overall record slipped to 16-11-1-1 on the season.
The Hurricanes will end the first half of the season on Sunday in the final of a three-in-three weekend as they welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers at 6:00pm at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena. 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.
