Hurricanes Shutout by Americans on Friday
Lethbridge, AB –The Lethbridge Hurricanes continued their season-long four-game homestand on Friday with a 3-0 shutout loss to the Tri-City Americans at the ENMAX Centre.
It marked the first visit for Tri-City to Lethbridge since November of 2019 as the Hurricanes and Americans locked heads for their only meeting of the season. Tri-City had a great start to the game as they peppered Harrison Meneghin early in the first period jumping out to an early 10-3 shot advantage but couldn’t beat the ‘Canes netminder. Lethbridge found their game at the midway point of the period with a power play and did everything but score on the man advantage as they directed seven shots on the opportunity, but Kyle Kelsey stood tall keeping the game scoreless. Miguel Marques rattled a goal-post at the end of the power play before the Americans Jordan Gavin had a great chance which hit the post as well. Late in the frame, Tyson Zimmer – who entered with three goals in his last two games – ripped a shot off the crossbar from one knee as the period ended scoreless after twenty minutes. The Americans outshot the Hurricanes 15-14 in the opening period.
The scoreless battle continued in the second period as both goaltenders continue to play outstanding. Lethbridge had a good look early in the frame as Trae Wilke was set up in the slot, but Kelsey reached out with the blocker to turn away the sophomore forward. The Hurricanes continued to press in the second outshooting the Americans 7-1 in the first half of the period. Kelsey’s best save came on a power play look when Brayden Edwards had a glorious chance back-door but somehow the Tri-City netminder stuck out his right leg to keep the game scoreless. The Amerks had a good look late in the frame when Deagan MacMillan ripped a shot off the crossbar – the third period for Tri-City in the game – as it remained scoreless after forty minutes of play. The Hurricanes held the edge in shots 9-5 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the Americans scored the first goal of the game just 42-seconds into the frame when Calgary Flames prospect Parker Bell banged home a rebound at the top of the crease to make it a 1-0 Tri-City lead; Jake Sloan and Lukas Dragicevic picked up the assists on the goal. Lethbridge pushed back in hopes of finding an equalizer as they peppered Kelsey in the middle of the period but the Americans netminder continued his outstanding play making great saves on Logan Wormald, Tyson Zimmer and Carter Dereniwsky on point-blank chances. Late in the period, the Hurricanes got caught in the defensive zone and Tri-City added an extra attacker as Bell potted his second of the night – and 15th of the season – to make it 2-0 Americans with 2:13 left in the game. Jordan Gavin added an empty-net goal for the Amerks with 37-seconds left en route to a 3-0 road victory.
Shots in the third period favoured the Americans 13-12 while the Hurricanes held the edge in the game 38-33. Lethbridge went 0/4 on the power play while Tri-City went 0/1 with the extra man, marking third straight game and sixth time in the last eight contest that the ‘Canes had only surrendered one power play opportunity.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Americans – #38 Kyle Kelsey (38-save shutout)
2) ‘Canes – #35 Harrison Meneghin (30-saves)
3) Americans – #22 Parker Bell (2 goals)
The loss for the Hurricanes ended their three-game winning streak and their four-game point streak. The defeat dropped the ‘Canes home-ice record to 10-7-3-0 on the season and 1-1-0-0 on their season-long homestand. Lethbridge’s overall record fell to 18-16-3-0 on the year while they dropped to 1-11-1-1 in their last 14 meetings against Tri-City dating back to 2008.
The Hurricanes will continue their four-game homestand on Tuesday when they welcome the Spokane Chiefs at 7:00pm to the ENMAX Centre before ending the home stretch on Friday in the first of a home-and-home with the Medicine Hat Tigers at 7:00pm. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.
