Canes snap losing streak with 5-4 shootout win over Rebs
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes went head to head with the Central division leading Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday night in Lethbridge and skated away with a shootout win and a much needed two points. Austin Fyten continued his hot streak since returning from injury last week as he tapped in a loose puck just a minute into the first period for his 8th of the season and third point in as many games since returning from a foot injury suffered early in October. The Canes veteran now has 11 points (8G,3A) in just eight games this season. Red Deer bounced back in what was a spirited back and forth affair as they tallied a pair of goals just a minutes apart from one another to take a 2-1 lead with 11 minutes to play in the first. But the Canes would push back once again as veteran Cam Braes snapped out of his scoring slump and tipped home his fifth of the season off a shot by Daniel Johnston on the power play to tie the game 2-2 going into the second.
But the Canes would once again have their mettle tested as they fell behind 3-2 early on in the second. But a revitalized Hurricanes power play would strike back again as Max Ross had the finish off a nice play from Mitch Maxwell to tie the game 3-3, once again on the power play. The special teams proved critical for the Canes as they held one of the strongest power play units in the WHL to 0 for 7 on the night while scoring on 2 of 7 with the man advantage.
With less than seven minutes remaining Braes took a pass from Maxwell and broke down the left side before wiring a shot bar down for his second of the night and a 4-3 lead. But the Rebels would bounce back once again as they managed to get a stick on a loose puck to shovel home the equalizer with less then five to play. The Canes would continue to battle even as the Rebels received a 45 second 4 on 3 power play in OT to force a shootout.
Mark Reners, Jacob Berglund and Austin Fyten all tallied for the Canes in the shootout as Hurricanes Goaltender Brandon Anderson, shut the door on highly touted prospect Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to lead the Canes a two point win. Anderson made 28 saves on the evening and raised his record to 8-7-1-3 on the year. The fifth goal also meant that everyone in attendence scored more with Taco Bell and are eligible to swap their ticket stub tomorrow at the Westside Taco Bell for a free Taco Bell Taco!
The Hurricanes are next in action on Friday as they take on the Swift Current Broncos in a home and home this weekend starting in Speedy Creek. Puck drop is 6:00 PM be sure to drop by Pop’s Pub for the live webcast of the game. Fans can also tune into the official radio voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes Classic Hits CJOC 94.1FM. For scoring summaries and recaps check back to lethbridgehurricanes.com and be sure to follow the team headlines on twitter @WHLHurricanes and the Canes newest media partner @canescast for game day play by play and analysis. Also look for us on Facebook at this link
Scoring Summary
Red Deer Rebels 4 at Lethbridge Hurricanes 5 (SO) – Status: Final SO
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 – Enmax Centre – Lethbridge, AB
Red Deer 2 1 1 0 – 4
Lethbridge 2 1 1 0 – 5
1st Period-1, Lethbridge, Fyten 8 (Sofillas, Kuvaev), 1:04. 2, Red Deer, Kambeitz 8 (Cowen, Siwak), 7:38. 3, Red Deer, Petrovic 2 (Archer), 8:41. 4, Lethbridge, Braes 5 (Johnston, Maxwell), 18:06 (PP). Penalties-Weller R.d (high sticking), 2:19; Braes Let (holding), 2:22; Maxwell Let (tripping), 2:39; Elson R.d (major-fighting), 5:36; Machacek Let (major-fighting), 5:36; Berglund Let (holding), 14:16; Dumba R.d (roughing), 16:16; Fyten Let (tripping), 19:27.
2nd Period-5, Red Deer, Persson 7 (Petrovic, Nugent-Hopkins), 1:27. 6, Lethbridge, Ross 7 (Maxwell), 9:07 (PP). Penalties-Dumba R.d (major-fighting), 8:15; Ferguson R.d (roughing), 8:15; Mayor R.d (interference, roughing), 8:15; Machacek Let (roughing), 8:15; Maxwell Let (roughing), 8:15; Oslanski Let (major-fighting), 8:15; Tarnasky Let (roughing), 10:43; Ryckman Let (slashing), 13:13; Kambeitz R.d (slashing), 13:28; Ferguson R.d (tripping), 14:26.
3rd Period-7, Lethbridge, Braes 6 (Maxwell, Ross), 13:21. 8, Red Deer, Siwak 7 (Dumba), 15:08. Penalties-Guhle R.d (high sticking), 4:48; Petrovic R.d (elbowing), 6:59; Nugent-Hopkins R.d (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 9:46; Ross Let (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 9:46.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Ross Let (tripping), 4:15.
Shootout – Red Deer 1 (Froese G, Nugent-Hopkins NG), Lethbridge 3 (Reners G, Berglund G, Fyten G).
Shots on Goal-Red Deer 12-6-11-3-0-32. Lethbridge 9-8-4-1-1-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Red Deer 0 / 7; Lethbridge 2 / 7.
Goalies-Red Deer, Guhle 1-2-1-0 (22 shots-18 saves). Lethbridge, Anderson 7-7-1-3 (32 shots-28 saves).
A-2,846
Referees-Devin Klein (90), Greg Sarauer (68).
Linesmen-Darren Holeha (47), Matthew Barker (118).