Hurricanes Edged 2-1 by Raiders
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes suffered a 2-1 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
Lethbridge entered with a 1-1-0-0 record on a current four-game homestand after a 4-3 overtime victory on Saturday against the Tri-City Americans while Prince Albert entered without a regulation loss this year having posted a 10-0-3-0 record through their first 13-games. The Hurricanes and Raiders traded chances early in the game with the ‘Canes coming close early on a great look by Grady Pichette who jumped up in the rush but tapped a centering pass just wide of the goal. The Raiders opened the scoring at the 7:27 mark when Brayden Dube buried his sixth goal of the season capping off a three-way passing play off the rush to make it 1-0 Prince Albert; Hubert Clarke and Owen Corkish picked up the assists on the goal. The Raiders continued to carry the play in the second half of the period as they peppered Koen Cleaver, but the ‘Canes netminder was terrific keeping it a one-goal deficit after twenty minutes of play with Prince Albert leading 1-0. Lethbridge was outshot 14-5 in the opening period.
Early in the second period, the Raiders added to their lead at the 6:01 when Jackson Kostiuk buried his second goal of the season to make it 2-0 Prince Albert as he wired a shot over the glove of Cleaver; Connor Howe and Alisher Sarkenov earned the helpers on the goal. Lethbridge had countless chances in the period as they pressure to cut into the Prince Albert lead. The Raiders nearly made it 3-0 when Riley Boychuk – who entered on a 13-game point streak to start the season – was set up back door, but Cleaver reached across to make a remarkable paddle save to keep it a 2-0 game. Lethbridge pulled to within a goal when Shane Smith buried his team-leading 11th goal of the season on a centering pass from Owen Berge to make it a 2-1 contest; Nathan Maloney picked up the secondary assist to extend a point-streak to three-straight games. The Hurricanes outshot the Raiders 11-10 in the middle frame.
Lethbridge continued to carry the play in the third period outshooting Prince Albert 6-4 in the final 20-minutes. The ‘Canes had a pair of chances in the opening five minutes as both Tyden Lafournaise and Shane Smith came close to striking to pull Lethbridge even, but Raiders’ goaltender Michael Orsulak was strong keeping it a one-goal game. Lethbridge pulled Cleaver late in the game in hopes of finding an equalizing goal, but couldn’t get set up in the final minute as Prince Albert hung on for the 2-1 victory.
The Hurricanes were outshot 29-26 in the game by the Raiders. Lethbridge and Prince Albert both went 0/1 with the power play.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #30 Koen Cleaver (27-saves)
2) Raiders – #17 Jackson Kostiuk (1 goal)
3) Raiders – #30 Michal Orsulak (25-saves)
The loss for the Hurricanes was their fifth regulation loss in the last six games as they fell to 1-2-0-0 on their current four-game homestand. Lethbridge’s home record slipped to 2-7-0-1 on the year while their overall record fell to 4-13-0-1 this season. The ‘Canes are now 0-5-0-0 against East Division opponents.
The Hurricanes will end their four-game homestand on Friday as they welcome the Brandon Wheat Kings at 7:00pm at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena before embarking on a season-long seven-game road trip through the BC Division. 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.ca.
