12-02-2016: Hurricanes (5) vs. Rebels (3)
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes welcomed the Red Deer Rebels on Friday night in the 21st Annual Canadian Tire Toque and Teddy Toss at the ENMAX Centre. The Hurricanes earned their sixth straight win with a 5-3 victory over the Rebels.
The Rebels scored early to make it 1-0 as Akash Bains beat Stuart Skinner for his fifth of the season at the 6:06 mark. Red Deer made it 2-0 just 3:56 later as Carson Sass beat Skinner high glove side after a face-off win. The Hurricanes would get on the board with six minutes left in the first period as Jordy Bellerive scored the all-important Teddy Bear Toss goal with a snap shot over the glove of Lasse Petersen to make it 2-1 Rebels. After the cleanup of all the bears, the teams would go to the dressing room for the first intermission.
The teams came back and played the remaining six minutes of the first period. Before the first twenty minutes was officially over, the Hurricanes struck to tie the game as Bellerive scored his second of the game on the power play to make it 2-2. The Hurricanes continued the momentum into the second period after a one-minute time out. The ‘Canes struck 33 seconds into the second as Tyler Wong centered to Giorgio Estephan who buried his 13th goal of the season to give the ‘Canes their first lead of the night, 3-2. Just 5:03 later, the ‘Canes made it 4-2 as Wong scored his team-leading 18th of the season on a five-on-three power play as Lethbridge led by two after two periods.
The Hurricanes entered the third period 7-1-1-1 on the season when holding a lead after forty minutes and earned their eight victory as the two teams traded goals in the final twenty minutes. First, Adam Musil scored his eighth of the season at the 13:13 mark before Estephan netted an empty net goal to make it a 5-3 final.
The Hurricanes outshot the Rebels 10-6 in the third period and 33-31 overall. The ‘Canes went 2/5 on the power play and 2/2 on the penalty kill.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #15 Jordy Bellerive – 2 goals, 1 assist
2) ‘Canes – #9 Giorgio Estephan – 2 goals, 1 assist
3) ‘Canes – #5 Tyler Wong – 1 goal, 3 assists
The Hurricanes have now won six straight games and improve their record to 13-11-1-2 on the season.
The Hurricanes kick off a two-game road trip tomorrow as they visit the Rebels in the second of the back-to-back at 7:00pm. The ‘Canes will then visit the Edmonton Oil Kings on Monday night before returning home Wednesday to host the Regina Pats at 7:00pm.
