Hurricanes Outduel Tigers 7-6 in See-Saw Battle
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes pitstop at home on Wednesday with a wild 7-6 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
Lethbridge returned a trio of regulars to the lineup as Tristen Doyle, Will Sharpe and Shane Smith slotted in for the first meeting against Medicine Hat. Smith faced his former team for the first time while Harrison Meneghin made his return to Lethbridge for the first time. Medicine Hat struck early with a power play goal just 4:34 into the game with a power play goal by Jonas Woo to make it 1-0; Schaeffer Gordon-Carroll and Kadon McCann earned the assists on the opening goal. The Hurricanes came close to tying the game with a power play of their own when Brayden Edwards ripped a shot off the goal post. Lethbridge did tie the game at the 6:55 mark on a point shot by Logan McCutcheon which redirected in for his third goal of the year to make it 1-1; Smith and Kooper Gizowski were credited with the assists on the goal. The ‘Canes took the lead at the 11:22 mark with a goal on the man advantage when Leo Braillard banged home his seventh of the year to give the ‘Canes their first lead of the game; Gizowski and Miguel Marques picked up the assists. The Tigers evened the game back at 2-2 with a shorthanded goal by Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Basha. Before the period was out, McKenna buried a backhand for his 10th goal of the year with just 19.7-seconds remaining to give Medicine Hat a 3-2 lead after twenty minutes of play. The Tigers held the edge in shots 12-8 in the first period.
The goal barrage continued in the second period with the two teams combining for six goals. Lethbridge pulled even at 3-3 just 2:25 into the frame when Brayden Edwards buried his seventh goal on a two-on-one; Logan Wormald and Noah Chadwick picked up the assists. After tying the game, the Hurricanes surrendered two goals in a span of 1:56; first Bryce Pickford struck on a power play at the 3:19 mark before Oasiz Wiesblatt tipped home his sixth of the year to put Medicine Hat ahead 5-3. Brady Smith, who started the game for the ‘Canes, was pulled after allowing five goals on 16 shots and replaced by Koen Cleaver. Shortly after entering the game, the Tigers added a shorthanded goal by Hunter St. Martin who netted his team-leading 14th goal in his 14th game to give Medicine Hat a three-goal advantage holding a 6-3 lead. Lethbridge cut the lead back to two with a power play goal at the 9:04 mark as Kash Andresen ripped home his fourth goal beating Meneghin over the blocker to make it 6-4; McCutcheon and Will Sharpe picked up the helpers. The ‘Canes pulled to within one with another goal on the man advantage as Wormald cashed in a rebound at the side of the net for his team-leading ninth goal to close the Tigers lead to 6-5 after two periods of play. Shots favoured the Hurricanes 12-10 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the Hurricanes continued the comeback and tied the game at 6-6 just 6:29 into the final stanza when Braillard leaned into a slapshot for his second goal of the game – and eighth of the year; Smith and Cleaver were credited with the assists on the equalizer. The teams traded chances after the tying goal before the Hurricanes took over and regained the lead in the see-saw battle with 7:46 remaining as Cameron Norrie buried his second career goal past an outstretched Meneghin to put Lethbridge ahead 7-6; Chadwick and Landen Ward drew the assists on the go-ahead goal. Medicine Hat pulled the goaltender late in the game but could not find a tying goal as Lethbridge hung on to a crazy 7-6 victory in the first of eight meetings between the ‘Canes and Tigers this season.
The Hurricanes were outshot 12-5 in the third period as the Tigers held the edge 34-25 in the game. Lethbridge went 3/7 on the power play while Medicine Hat went 2/4 on the man advantage.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #12 Cameron Norrie (1 goal)
2) ‘Canes – #2 Logan McCutcheon (1 goal, 1 assist)
3) Tigers – #72 Gavin McKenna (1 goal, 2 assists)
The win for the Hurricanes ended a two-game losing streak as they lifted to 8-1-1-0 at home this season. Lethbridge’s overall record improved to 9-5-1-0 on the season while their record when trailing after two periods of play this season lifted to 3-5-1-0. The ‘Canes also improved to 4-4-0-0 against Central Division opponents and moved back into top spot in the Central Division.
The Hurricanes will open a three-game road trip on Friday when they visit the Moose Jaw Warriors at the Moose Jaw Events Centre at 6:00pm MT. Lethbridge will return home on Saturday, November 16th to welcome the Victoria Royals at 6:00pm. Tickets 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.
