Hurricanes Season Cut Short
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes had their season cut short on Friday night as they dropped a 7-2 decision to the Regina Pats in Game 5 of their first round best-of-seven series and fall 4-1 in the series ending their turnaround year.
The Hurricanes came out flying early in the first period and had a two-on-one in the first minute of play but didn’t get a shot on goal. The Pats responded scoring four first period goals to jump out to a big early lead.
The Pats took an early 1-0 lead just 1:24 into the game as Sam Steel scored on a delayed penalty beating Stuart Skinner over the glove side to put the ‘Canes on the heels. Just 1:35 later, Lane Zablocki tapped home his first of the series to make it a 2-0 lead. The Hurricanes with a power play surrendered a shorthanded goal at the 10:22 as Steel made it 3-0 on what was a sloppy play by the Hurricanes in the defensive zone. Just under five minutes later, Zablocki tipped home his second of the night as he redirected an Austin Wagner point shot by Stuart Skinner to make it 4-0. Skinner was relieved in place of Sittler after giving up four goals and nine shots. Hurricanes were outshot 11-10 in the opening period.
The ‘Canes, with their backs against the wall, came out in the second period with hopes of starting a comeback and with a power play they finally got a bounce as a Brayden Burke shot from the blueline bounced off the shin pad of Tyler Wong and passed Tyler Brown to get the ‘Canes on the board with a power play goal as they trailed 4-1. The ‘Canes had a few more good looks in the period, but couldn’t add a second heading into the third period. Sittler was sharp in relief of Skinner stopping all 15 shots he saw in the second period while the ‘Canes directed ten shots on goal.
In the third, the ‘Canes got a spark as Giorgio Estephan moved in on the right wing and snapped a shot low to the glove of Brown just 3:46 into the period to give the ‘Canes life as they trailed 4-2. However, it was short-lived as Austin Wagner moved in on a partial two-on-one and rifled one high over Sittler’s glove to make it 5-2. The Pats added two more goals, one on a power play and one into an empty-net goal, as Regina would go on to the 7-2 win clinching the series four games to one.
The Hurricanes were outshot 9-5 in the third period and 35-25 in the game. The ‘Canes were 1/5 on the power play while the Pats were also 1/5.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Pats – #27 Austin Wagner – (1 goal, 3 assists)
2) Pats – #23 Sam Steel – (2 goals, 2 assists)
3) Pats – #77 Adam Brooks – (1 goal, 2 assists)
The Hurricanes were outdueled and outplayed in the five games in their abbreviated playoff run. The trio of Giorgio Estephan, Tyler Wong and Brayden Burke combined for 10 points while the Pats trio of Adam Brooks, Sam Steel and Cole Sanford combined for 29 points in the five games.
The Hurricanes Cinderella season is now complete after posting a regular season record of 46-24-1-1 and capturing their first division title since 1996-1997.
THANK YOU FANS FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS SUPPORT THIS SEASON!!
