Hurricanes Defeat Ice 5-2
Coleman, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes entered the final weekend of the ENMAX Pre-Season with hopes of finding some victories and they kicked off the weekend in style with a 5-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice.
A three point night from overage forward Ryley Lindgren helped pace the Hurricanes to the victory. Two goals in the first, two in the second and one in the third lifted the ‘Canes to their second win of the pre-season.
It was a fast paced first period as the two teams had some great chances early on but neither team found the net in the first five minutes of the game. The Hurricanes finally opened the scoring at the 10:23 mark as Lindgren tapped home a centering pass from Kroeker to make it 1-0 – Brett Davis added the other assist. On the second of back-to-back penalties to Kootenay’s Matt Alfaro, the Hurricanes made him pay. While serving a goaltender interference penalty, the ‘Canes struck with the power play as Stuart Skinner sent the puck up ice before a three-way passing play that saw Jesse Zaharichuk collect his first goal of the pre-season to make it 2-0 – Lindgren and B. Davis picked up the helpers. The Hurricanes outshot the Ice 14-8 in the first period.
The Ice struck quickly into the second period as Austin Wellsby was nearly robbed by Skinner who got a piece of the Kootenay forwards shot with his goal stick but the puck bounced its way into the net just 18 seconds into the period to cut the ‘Canes lead in half. Just 3:30 later, the Ice tied the game as Eli Lieffers beat Skinner on a rebound to make it 2-2. With a power play, however, Kroeker gave the Hurricanes the lead again as he redirected a Menell centering pass past Lee to make it 3-2 – Egor Babenko had the second assist. On another power play, the ‘Canes struck again on a three-way passing play as Jordy Bellerive slipped one through the legs of Lee to make it 4-2 – Kord Pankewicz and Babenko picked up the helpers.
Not much happened in the third period. The Ice had two early power play opportunities while Josh Tarzwell and Zane Franklin both served two minutes but Kootenay couldn’t convert. The Hurricanes added to their lead as Lindgren potted his second of the game as he beat Lee on his third rebound making it 5-2 at the 9:18 mark of the third period.
The Hurricanes hung on for the 5-2 victory and improve to 2-3-0-0 on the Pre-Season.
The ‘Canes will wrap up the ENMAX Pre-Season on Friday night when they face the Calgary Hitmen in Crowsnest at 7:00pm.
