Hurricanes Snap Skid With Overtime Win Over Hitmen
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes returned to the ENMAX Centre on Wednesday with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Calgary Hitmen.
Lethbridge had a strong first period outshooting Calgary 17-11 in the frame. The ‘Canes were buzzing early in the period as Logan Wormald had not one, but two, great chances to open the scoring but Hitmen goaltender Ethan Buenaventura made a pair of great saves to keep the game scoreless early. Lethbridge opened the scoring at the 6:48 mark as Noah Chadwick ripped home his third goal of the season to make it 1-0 for the Hurricanes; Miguel Marques and Brayden Edwards earned the assists on the goal. Calgary looked to answer back on a breakaway by newly acquired forward Tyson Greenway, but Harrison Meneghin made a great pad save to keep it a Lethbridge lead. Hitmen eventually tied the game at the 17:13 mark as Ethan Moore snapped home his third of season to make it 1-1 after twenty minutes of play.
The Hurricanes had a string of power plays midway through the second period, including an extended five-on-three man advantage. Lethbridge generated a few good chances including a point-blank look for Elias Knoester who was robbed of his first WHL goal by Buenaventura to slid across to make a great save to keep it a 1-1 game. The ‘Canes pulled ahead with a goal with 4:26 remaining in the period as Marques swatted home a rebound for his fourth goal of the season to make it a 2-1 Lethbridge; Logan McCutcheon and Landen Ward picked up the assists on the goal. Calgary had a pair of late power play chances themselves but couldn’t solve Meneghin who turned aside 11 Hitmen shots in the period. Lethbridge outshot Calgary 12-11 in the middle frame.
In the third, Calgary stymied the Hurricanes offence holding the ‘Canes to just five shots on goal while the Hitmen tallied 14 shots. Midway through the period, Blake Swetlikoff was assessed a tripping penalty and the Hitmen struck on the power play as Tyson Greenway – who made his Calgary debut after being acquired from the Tri-City Americans earlier in the week – jammed home a rebound for his first in a Hitmen jersey and his first goal on the season to tie the game 2-2; Sean Tschigerl and Carter Yakemchuk picked up the assists on the tying goal. The ‘Canes had a pair of late power play opportunities but couldn’t get set up in the offensive zone. In the final minute, Marques was sprung on a breakaway in hopes of finding a go-ahead goal but made a move to the backhand but his shot hit the goal-post as the game went to overtime.
The extra session lasted just 25-seconds as Logan Wormald – who had multiple great scoring chances in the game – buried a one-timer on a pass from Brayden Edwards for his fourth goal of the season and second career overtime winner to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 overtime victory.
The Hurricanes were outshot 39-35 in the game by the Hitmen. Lethbridge was 0/5 on the power play while Calgary went 1/5 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #35 Harrison Meneghin (37-saves)
2) Hitmen – #29 Ethan Buenaventura (32-saves)
3) ‘Canes – #14 Miguel Marques (1 goal, 1 assist)
The victory for the Hurricanes improved their overall record to 6-4-1-0 on the season while improving their home-ice record to 3-0-1-0 at the ENMAX Centre. Lethbridge ended a three-game losing streak with the win while extending Calgary’s losing streak to five-straight games.
The Hurricanes continue a two-game homestand on Friday when they welcome the Red Deer Rebels to the ENMAX Centre at 7:00pm before the ‘Canes travel to Calgary to face the Hitmen on Sunday afternoon. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.
