Hurricanes Win Eighth Straight With 4-2 Win Over Pats
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes returned to the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Wednesday for the first time in 13 days as they earned a 4-2 win over the Regina Pats.
Lethbridge entered on a seven-game winning streak after sweeping a five-game road trip. The ‘Canes had a great start to the game peppering the Pats early, but Ewan Huet made a couple of great saves to keep the game scoreless. Midway through the first period, Regina scored first at the 10:17 mark when Zach Pantelakis scored his ninth of the season to make it 1-0 with an unassisted goal. The Hurricanes drew even just over five-minutes when Logan Wormald banged home a rebound for his team-leading 26th goal of the year to make it a 1-1 game; Brayden Edwards and Tristen Doyle picked up the assists as it was tied after twenty minutes of play. Lethbridge outshot Regina 16-6 in the first period.
The Hurricanes had another great start to the second period as they pulled ahead for the first time when Jordan Gustafson – who was one of three ‘Canes to make their home debut along with Caden Price and Anthony Wilson – tapped home a three-way passing play just 2:48 into the frame to make it 2-1 Lethbridge; Brayden Yager and Leo Braillard earned the assists on the goal. The ‘Canes continued to pour it on and came close multiple times to build on their lead including a point-blank chance for Edwards on a two-on-one, but Huet flashed the leather to keep it a one goal game. Regina pulled even with a power play goal at the 12:54 mark when Matt Paranych had a point shot deflect off a defender and passed Jackson Unger to make it a 2-2 game after forty minutes. The Hurricanes outshot the Pats 14-7 in the middle frame, and 30-13 after two periods of play.
In the third period, Lethbridge outshot Regina 22-7. The Pats had a power play opportunity when Noah Chadwick was assessed a cross-checking penalty; while down a man, the Hurricanes found a go-ahead goal when Edwards ripped a shot off a defenders stick and passed Huet’s blocker for his 18th goal of the year – and second shorthanded – to make it a 3-2 game at the 8:05 mark of the third. The ‘Canes had a four-minute power play late in the game but failed to strike to find an insurance marker. Regina pulled the goaltender in the final minute for the extra attacker, but Yager sealed the ‘Canes victory with his 14th goal on a breakaway into the empty-net to make it a 4-2 final.
The Hurricanes outshot the pats 52-20 on the night, marking a new season-high for shots in a single game. Lethbridge went 0/6 on the power play while Regina was 1/4 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #19 Brayden Edwards (1 goal, 1 assist)
2) Pats – #70 Ewan Huet (48-saves)
3) ‘Canes – #7 Jordan Gustafson (1 goal)
The win for the Hurricanes was their eighth-straight victory as they improved to 16-3-1-0 at home this season. Lethbridge’s overall record improved to 27-14-1-1 on the season while lifting to 15-4-0-0 in their last 19 games dating back to the start of December. The eight-game winning streak is the longest win streak for the ‘Canes since March of 2019.
The Hurricanes will continue a three-game homestand on Friday when they welcome the Red Deer Rebels at 7:00pm in the first of a three-in-three weekend before hosting the Calgary Hitmen at Saturday 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.