Hurricanes Fall 3-1 to Hitmen on Sunday
Calgary, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday afternoon falling 3-1 to the Calgary Hitmen at Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Hurricanes inserted overage goaltender Harrison Meneghin for the first time this season after he returned from Tamp Bay Lightning training camp. Calgary was able to get to the ‘Canes number one early jumping out to a 1-0 lead when Ben Kindel fired home his first goal of the season; Lethbridge product Rylan Ng earned the lone assist on the goal for his first WHL point. The Hitmen carried the play in the opening period out-chancing and out-shooting the Hurricanes 17-4 in the opening period. Late in the frame, Calgary doubled their lead with a power play goal as Carson Wetsch lifted home his first goal of the season to make it 2-0 ending Lethbridge’s penalty killing streak to open the season at 11-consecutive kills. The Hurricanes for the fourth straight time to start the season trailed after one period.
It was a tentative second period for both sides as the two teams combined for just ten shots in the period. Lethbridge was outshot 6-4 in the middle frame. Calgary had a pair of early chances with a power play, but Meneghin was solid turning aside the six Hitmen shots, including a pair of good opportunities on the man advantage. The Hurricanes had their first look with the extra man at the mid-way point of the period but couldn’t generate any substantial scoring chances as the game remained 2-0 in favour of Calgary.
In the third period, the Hitmen added to their lead with a five-on-three power play goal at the 5:55 mark as Tulk one-timed home a beautiful pass from Wetsch to make it 3-0; Kindel earned the second assist on the goal. Lethbridge got on the board with a power play goal of their own with 10:10 remaining in the contest as Leo Braillard rifled home his team-leading third goal of the season to make it a 3-1 game; Brayden Edwards and Logan Wormald earned the assists on the goal. The Hurricanes pulled the goaltender late in the game, but couldn’t solve Ethan Buenaventura as Calgary hung on for the victory.
The Hurricanes outshot the Hitmen 12-6 in the third period but were outshot 29-20 in the game. Lethbridge went 1/3 with the power play while Calgary was 2/7 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Hitmen – #16 Carson Wetsch (1 goal, 1 assist)
2) Hitmen – #11 Ben Kindel (1 goal, 1 assist)
3) Hitmen – #37 Oliver Tulk (1 goal, 1 assist)
The loss for the Hurricanes was their first defeat of the regular season as they fall to 3-1-0-0 on the year. Lethbridge’s road record slipped to 1-1-0-0 with the loss.
Lethbridge will return to the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Friday, October 4th at 7:00pm when they welcome the Moose Jaw Warriors. Tickets for the home opener can be purchased by visiting the Yates Memorial Theatre or VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca.
