Hurricanes Skate to 5-1 Game 1 Victory Over Wheat Kings
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes welcomed the Brandon Wheat Kings in Game 1 of their second round best-of-seven series and earned a 5-1 win at the ENMAX Centre in front of 4,049.
The Hurricanes started with a bang jumping out to an early 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by Taylor Ross just 6:23 into the hockey game as he finished a pass from Jadon Joseph on a two-on-one for his sixth of the post-season. The ‘Canes added a power play goal just 3:20 later as Jordy Bellerive ripped home his fifth of the playoffs; Brad Morrison and Calen Addison earned the assists on the goal. The Hurricanes were outshot 11-10 in the first period.
Brandon cut the Hurricanes lead in half 6:31 into the second period as Marcus Sekundiak banged home a rebound beating Logan Flodell, who made 25 saves in the win, to make it a 2-1 score. The ‘Canes answered back with another power play goal at the 13:15 mark as Jadon Joseph buried a Logan Barlage rebound passed Dylan Myskiw to restore the two-goal lead making it 3-1 Lethbridge after two periods. Shots were tied 11-11 in the second period.
The ‘Canes added two more goals in the third period as Ross tapped home his second of the game and seventh of the playoffs at the 6:20 mark on a power play before Bellerive sniped his second of the night, also on the power play at the 14-minute mark; Morrison and Addison earned the assists on both third period goals.
The Hurricanes outshot the Wheat Kings 14-4 in the third period and 35-26 in the hockey game. The ‘Canes went 4/6 on the power play and 2/2 on the penalty kill.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #8 Taylor Ross (2 goals)
2) ‘Canes – #19 Brad Morrison (3 assists)
3) ‘Canes – #2 Calen Addison (3 assists)
The victory for the Hurricanes improves their home-ice record to 4-0 in the WHL Playoffs and gives them a 1-0 series lead. It was the third straight Game 1 that the Hurricanes have been victorious in dating back to last year’s post-season.
The Hurricanes and Wheat Kings will face off in Game 2 on Saturday night at the ENMAX Centre at 7:00pm before the series shifts to Brandon for Game 3 and 4. Tickets for Saturday’s game can be purchased online, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre.
(Photo Credit: Erica Perreaux)
