Hurricanes Season Ends with 5-2 Loss to Warriors
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes had their season end on Wednesday with a 5-2 loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors in Game 4 at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes looked to begin a comeback that would see them become the first team since the 2013 Kelowna Rockets to erase a 3-0 series lead to win in Game 7. The ‘Canes started Harrison Meneghin in goal as the second-team all-star made his first post-season start. Meneghin was busy early as Moose Jaw had a good start to the game outshooting Lethbridge 7-0 in the early going, but it was the Hurricanes that struck first. The ‘Canes opened the scoring when Tyson Zimmer snapped home his first of the series at the 8:50 mark to make it 1-0; Anton Astashevich earned the lone assist on the goal. The lead, which was the Hurricanes first of the series, lasted just over five minutes until Brayden Yager scored his first of the post-season capping off a three-way passing play to make it a 1-1 game after one period. The Warriors outshot the Hurricanes 11-6 in the first period.
Early in the second period, the Warriors took their first lead of the game as Maximus Wanner netted his first of the series at the 5:15 mark to make it 2-1 Moose Jaw; Jagger Firkus and Atley Calvert earned the assists on the go-ahead goal. Lethbridge had a five-minute power play midway through the period as Robert Baco was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for goaltender interference after steamrolling Meneghin. Despite the lengthy opportunity, the Hurricanes were unable to find an equalizer with the five-minute power play. Lethbridge did tie the game at the 19-minute mark of the period when Hayden Smith tapped home his first of the playoffs on a centering pass from Chase Pauls to make it a 2-2 game after forty minutes; Brayden Edwards picked up the second assist on the goal. The Hurricanes held the edge in shots 12-8 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the Warriors pulled ahead at the 4:48 mark when Lynden Lakovic snuck one by Meneghin from a sharp angle and int o make it a 3-2 Moose Jaw lead. The Hurricanes pushed in the midway part of the period pressing for an equalizer, but against the grain, the Warriors scored an insurance goal as Denton Mateychuk cashed in his second of the playoffs to make it a 4-2 lead. Lethbridge pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker and the Warriors added an empty-net goal by Yager to make it a 5-2 final in Game 4.
The Hurricanes outshot the Warriors 12-11 in the third period while the shots were tied 30-30 in the game. Lethbridge went 0/3 on the power play while not surrendering a power play against.
Three stars of the game were the ‘Canes overage players:
1) ‘Canes – #30 Bryan Thomson
2) ‘Canes – #17 Jett Jones
3) ‘Canes – #27 Cole Shepard
The loss for the Hurricanes ends their 2022-2023 season as they were swept for the tenth time in their post-season history. It marks the first time since 1998 and 1999 that the Hurricanes were swept in back-to-back playoffs.
