Hurricanes Comeback Falls Short in Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw, SK – The Lethbridge Hurricanes opened a two-game road trip on Saturday with a 4-3 loss in Moose Jaw against the Warriors at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
The Hurricanes had a great start to the game as they dominated the first period peppering Warrior netminder Connor Ungar. Lethbridge opened the scoring when Anton Astashevich snapped home his second goal of the season at the 7:36 mark off a faceoff in the attacking zone; Tristan Zandee earned the only assist on the goal. Moose Jaw had a handful of great chances, but Jared Picklyk was outstanding as he stymied Brayden Yager on a back-door one-timer to keep the ‘Canes in front. Lethbridge outshot Moose Jaw 17-9 in the first period as the ‘Canes set a new season-high for shots in a period.
The second period was a role reversal of the first as the Warriors come out firing on Picklyk who stood tall turning aside all but one of Moose Jaw’s 13 shots in the middle frame. The Warriors pulled even at the midway mark of the second period as Eric Alarie rifled home his third goal of the season at the 10:28 mark off the rush to make it 1-1 after forty minutes of play. Lethbridge only had four shots in the second period.
The goals were aplenty in the third period. Moose Jaw pulled ahead as Ben Riche snapped home his third of the season just 1:09 into the final frame. The Warriors added to their lead when Nathan Pilling banged home a power play goal to make it 3-1 at the 5:32 mark. The Hurricanes answered back with a power play goal of their own at the 10:28 mark as Alex Thacker ripped home his first goal of the season to make it a 3-2 contest; Cole Shepard and Logan Wormald earned the assists on the goal. However, the one-goal deficit was short-lived as the Warriors restored their two-goal advantage with another power play goal just over a minute-and-a-half later as Atley Calvert buried his fifth to make it 4-2. Lethbridge once again pulled to within one when Joe Arntsen blasted home a slapshot for his first goal of the season to make it 4-3; Chase Pauls and Jett Jones picked up the helpers. The ‘Canes pulled Picklyk – who once again was spectacular in the third period – for the extra attacker but weren’t able to find an equalizer as Moose Jaw hung on to the one-goal victory.
The Hurricanes outshot the Warriors 13-12 in the third period, while the shots were even 34-34 in the contest. Lethbridge was 1/4 with the power play while Moose Jaw went 2/3 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Warriors – #8 Eric Alarie (1 goal, 1 assist)
2) Warriors – #15 Ben Riche (1 goal, 1 assist)
3) ‘Canes – #7 Joe Arntsen (1 goal)
The loss for the Hurricanes was their second straight defeat, and third straight on the road, as they fall to 1-4-0-0 away from home. Lethbridge drops to 3-5-0-0 on the season having lost four of their last five games.
Lethbridge end the two-game trip on Sunday afternoon as they visit the Regina Pats at 4:00pm at the Brandt Centre. The ‘Canes will return to the ENMAX Centre on Wednesday, October 19th when they welcome the Saskatoon Blades.
Individual game tickets can be purchased in person at the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, the Yates Memorial Theatre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) and online at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com.
