Hurricanes Drop 4-0 to Oil Kings in Game 2
Edmonton, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes continued their first-round playoff series with Game 2 against the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rogers Place on Saturday as they fell 4-0.
The Oil Kings – who held a 1-0 series lead after a 4-1 victory on Thursday – came out flying in the first period peppering the Hurricanes in the first five-minutes. In the opening minute, Edmonton had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring when Jalen Luypen was sprung on a breakaway but Bryan Thomson, who made 44-saves in the first game, stymied the Chicago prospect to keep the game scoreless. The ‘Canes came on as the period progressed and had a great chance when Justin Hall was stopped point-blank twice by Sebastian Cossa as the game was scoreless after one period. Edmonton outshot Lethbridge 13-6 in the first period.
Edmonton came out flying in the second period keeping the Hurricanes pinned for the opening few minutes, but Thomson turned aside eight shots in the first three minutes. The Oil Kings opened the scoring for the second straight game as Carson Golder snapped home his first of the series to make it 1-0; Jakub Demek and Jaxsen Wiebe drew the helpers on the goal. The ‘Canes pushed back and had a couple of great looks on a power play but couldn’t beat Cossa. Lethbridge had a two-on-one chance when Logan Wormald feathered a pass to Corson Hopwo but he was stopped by the Edmonton goaltender to keep it 1-0. The Oil Kings doubled their lead when Golder buried a rebound with 1:13 remaining in the second period as Edmonton, like in Game 1, held a 2-0 lead after two periods.
In the third period, the Hurricanes pushed to get on the board as Ty Nash had a great opportunity on a rebound, but he jammed it wide. Edmonton registered a power play goal when Dylan Guenther ripped home a one-timer to make it 3-0 with just under six-minutes left in the contest; Kaiden Guhle and Josh Williams earned the assists on the goal. The Hurricanes pulled the goaltender but the Oil Kings added an empty-net goal as Guhle scored his first of the series to make it a 4-0 final.
The Oil Kings outshot the Hurricanes 12-10 in the third period and 43-25 in the game. Lethbridge went 0/2 on the power play while Edmonton was 1/2 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Oil Kings – #9 Carson Golder (2 goals)
2) Oil Kings – #33 Sebastian Cossa (25-save shutout)
3) Oil Kings – #4 Kaiden Guhle (1 goal, 1 assist)
The loss for the Hurricanes sees Edmonton take a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven first round matchup. The ‘Canes fall to 17-21 lifetime in Game 2’s in the WHL Playoffs.
The Hurricanes will welcome the Oil Kings to the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge for Games 3 & 4 on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00pm.
Individual game tickets for the post-season will go on sale on Thursday, April 21st at 10:00am. 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.
