Hurricanes Down Rebels in Final Regular Season Home Game
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes earned a 6-4 victory on Friday over the Red Deer Rebels in the final home game of the regular season at the ENMAX Centre.
It was the first of a home-and-home set between the ‘Canes and Rebels to close the 2022-2023 regular season. Lethbridge had a great start jumping out to an early lead as Dustin Renas scored his first goal in 42 games redirecting an Anton Astashevich wrist shot by Chase Coward to make it a 1-0 lead just 3:12 into the game. The Hurricanes doubled their lead when Hayden Smith scored his third goal in two games on a shorthanded breakaway as he ripped home his 14th goal of the season to make it 2-0; Brayden Edwards earned the lone assist on the goal. Late in the frame, the Rebels pulled to within a goal as Kai Uchacz wired home his 50th goal of the season with 1:58 remaining in the game but a Chase Pauls goal just over a minute later gave the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead after one period. The ‘Canes outshot the Rebels 10-7 in the first period.
The Hurricanes came out flying to open the second period as they outshot the Rebels 12-9 in the middle frame. Lethbridge extended their lead just 1:05 into the period as Tyson Zimmer snapped home his 18th goal of the season right off a faceoff to make it a 4-1 game; Edwards earned the lone assist on the tally. The ‘Canes struck again just over a minute later as Tristen Doyle scored a beautiful goal deking around a defender before netting his fourth goal of the season to give the Hurricanes a comfortable 5-1 advantage; Tristan Zandee and Edwards – who earned his fourth helper on the night – picked up the assists on the goal. Lethbridge continued to fire away at Coward in the Rebels goal but could add to their lead as they led by four goals after two periods.
In the third period, the Rebels turned it on and got on the board at the 7:38 mark when Talon Brigley scored his fourth goal of the season deflecting a Hunter Mayo shot through the legs of Bryan Thomson to make it a 5-2 game. Red Deer then struck for two goals in 24-seconds as Craig Armstrong slipped home his 11th goal before Jace Isley reached the 30-goal mark to make it a 5-4 game with 5:48 remaining in the third period. The Rebels pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker in hopes of finding an equalizer, but Joe Arntsen scored an empty-net goal to give Lethbridge a 6-4 victory.
The Rebels outshot the Hurricanes 18-5 in the third period and 34-27 in the contest. Lethbridge went 1/5 on the power play while Red Deer was 0/8 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were the Hurricanes overagers:
1) ‘Canes – #30 Bryan Thomson
2) ‘Canes – #17 Jett Jones
3) ‘Canes – #27 Cole Shepard
The win for the Hurricanes finished their regular season home schedule with a 21-10-1-2 record on the year while lifting their overall record to 36-25-3-3 on the campaign. The victory for Lethbridge clinched fifth-place in the Eastern Conference standings confirming a first-round playoff matchup against the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The win also marked the 59th career victory for Thomson who became the second-winningest goaltender in Hurricanes history trailing Stuart Skinner who had 88 victories as a ‘Cane.
The ‘Canes will end the 2022-2023 regular season on Saturday when they visit the Rebels in the second of the home-and-home set at 7:00pm at Peavey Mart Centrium. The Hurricanes will open the 2023 WHL Playoffs against the Warriors on Friday, March 31st in Game 1 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Individual playoff tickets go on sale on Tuesday, March 28th at 10:00am and can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, the Yates Memorial Theatre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com.
