Hurricanes Earn Second Straight Win with 5-2 Victory Over Blades
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes earned their second-straight victory on Wednesday with a come-from-behind 5-2 win over the Saskatoon Blades at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
The Hurricanes entered after a 6-2 win on Friday to end an eight-game losing streak while the Blades entered with losses in back-to-back games to open a three-game Central Division road trip. Lethbridge had a good start to the game outshooting Saskatoon in the opening five minutes. The ‘Canes had an early chance on a power play but couldn’t solve Ryley Budd who stopped all 10 shots he faced in the first period. Saskatoon opened the scoring in the final minute of the frame when David Lewandowski buried a shot past Koen Cleaver with 4.2-seconds left in the period to make it a 1-0 Blades advantage; former Hurricane Tristen Doyle and Budd picked up the assists on the goal. Lethbridge was outshot 12-10 in the first period by Saskatoon.
The Blades doubled their lead early in the second period with a power play goal at the 6:35 mark when Rowan Calvert tapped home his team-leading 23rd goal of the season to make it 2-0; Lewandowski and Hunter Laing earned the assists on the goal. Lethbridge responded at the midway point of the period when Oli Chenier redirected a Grady Pichette point shot for his sixth goal of the season – and third goal in his last two games – to make it a 2-1 game; Andrew Petruk picked up the secondary assist on the goal. Just 34-seconds later, the ‘Canes struck again when Owen Berge tipped home his 12th goal of the year to tie the game 2-2; Carsen Adair was credited with the lone helper on the equalizer as Berge matched the team-high for goals this season while matching his previous career-high in goals. The teams traded chances in the back-half of the period, but the game was tied after two periods. The Blades outshot the Hurricanes 12-8 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the Hurricanes pulled in front just 19-seconds into the frame when Hudson Kibblewhite – who returned to the lineup after missing the last seven games – snapped a low shot past Budd to give Lethbridge their first lead of the game; Adair picked up the lone assist on the goal the made it a 3-2 ‘Canes advantage. Just over six minutes later, the Hurricanes struck again when Kade Duell scored a highlight-reel goal when he deked through a defender before rifling home his team-leading 13th goal of the season to make it a two-goal Lethbridge lead; Easton Daneault and Will Scott earned the assists on the goal. Before the end of the game, the ‘Canes added an empty-net goal by Kyle Heger who scored his seventh goal of the year to make it a 5-2 final. Shots were even 14-14 in the third period.
The Hurricanes were outshot 38-32 in the contest by the Blades. Lethbridge went 0/5 on the power play while Saskatoon went 1/4 on the power play.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #30 Koen Cleaver (36-saves)
2) ‘Canes – #22 Hudson Kibblewhite (1 goal)
3) ‘Canes – #4 Carsen Adair (2 assists)
The win for the Hurricanes was their second-straight victory as they improved to 2-1-0-0 through the first three games on their four-game homestand. Lethbridge’s home record improved to 9-15-0-1 at home this year while their overall record lifted to 14-33-0-1 on the season. The ‘Canes improved to 1-2-0-0 this year against the Blades.
The Hurricanes will end their four-game homestand on Friday when they welcome the Calgary Hitmen at 7:00pm at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena before the ‘Canes open a stretch of five of six on the road. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting the VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.
