Hurricanes End Regular Season with 3-2 OT Win in Calgary
Calgary, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes ended their regular season schedule on Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 overtime victory at Scotiabank Saddledome against the Calgary Hitmen.
The Hurricanes were outshot early in the game, but Jared Picklyk made some key stops early with his best coming off Cael Zimmerman on a point blank chance. Picklyk turned aside all 14 shots the Hitmen had in the first period. Lethbridge opened the scoring at the 9:46 mark when Brayden Edwards slipped home his 10th of the season – and third in two games – to make it a 1-0 lead; Joe Arntsen and Logan Wormald picked up the helpers on the goal. Just under two-minutes later, the ‘Canes doubled their lead as Nolan Bentham beat Ethan Buenaventura with his fifth goal of the season to make it 2-0; Corson Hopwo was credited with the lone assist on the goal as the ‘Canes lead by two after twenty minutes of play.
The Hitmen carried the play in the second period as they outshot the Hurricanes 14-8. Calgary had an early opportunity as Sean Tschigerl was awarded a penalty shot but, on the opportunity, Picklyk stymied the Hitmen sniper with the blocker to keep Lethbridge ahead 2-0. Tschigerl did beat Picklyk at the 11:40 mark to get the Hitmen on the board making it a 2-1 game. Calgary continued to press and on a power play they tied the game when Riley Fiddler-Schultz rifled home his team-leading 28th goal of the season to make it 2-2 after forty minutes of play.
In the third period, the teams played a fast-paced frame that didn’t result in many stoppages. The Hurricanes failed to capitalize on an early power play chances in the third as the game remained tied. Late in the period, Lethbridge had a glorious opportunity to win on a two-on-one by Hopwo was robbed by Buenaventura who slid over and made a great save to keep it tied. Neither team could find an equalizer as the game went to overtime.
The extra session didn’t last long as just 19-seconds into the three-on-three frame, Alex Thacker buried a centering pass from Justin Hall to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 victory, their second straight overtime win.
The Hurricanes were outshot 30-26 in the game. Lethbridge went 1/4 on the power play while Calgary with 1/2 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were Calgary’s three overage players:
1) Hitmen – #11 Cael Zimmerman
2) Hitmen – #25 Blake Allan
3) Hitmen – #25 Blake Stevenson
The win for the Hurricanes ends their season with an overall record of 33-30-40-1 as they went 18-13-2-1 on home ice and 15-17-2-0 on the road. The ‘Canes finished the regular season on a 6-0-1-0 run in their last seven games while going 13-6-2-0 in their last 21 regular season games.
The Hurricanes will begin their best-of-seven first round playoff matchup against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Thursday at Rogers Place. The ‘Canes will host Games 3 & 4 of the series on Tuesday, April 26th and Thursday, April 28th at the ENMAX Centre.
Individual game tickets for the post-season will go on sale on Thursday, April 21st at 10:00am. Tickets can be purchased in person at the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, the Yates Memorial Theatre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) and online at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com.
