BRANDON, MB. - Scott Glennie scored the game winner in overtime as the Brandon Wheat Kings held on for a 3-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday night.
It took a while to get the first goal in this one and then it took even longer to get the next one! Brandon opened the scoring with under four minutes remaining in the first period when Shayne Wiebe took a pass from David Toews on a two-on-one rush and Wiebe beat Brandon Anderson to give the Wheaties a 1-0 lead after one period of play. The Hurricanes had a couple of very good chances in the period, both on partial break-aways, one by Cam Braes and the other short-handed by Mitch Maxwell, but Brandon's goaltender Liam Liston was able to shut the door. The Wheat Kings nearly took a 2-0 lead late in the period when the Hurricanes pulled the goalie and put out the extra man with 2.3 seconds left and the face-off in the Brandon zone. The Wheaties won the draw and fired the puck into the open goal, but time had expired about a half second before the puck went in. So the period would end 1-0 in favour of Brandon. Lethbridge out shot the Wheaties 12-10 in the period.
In the second, not much in terms of offence. Neither team was able to find the back of the net. The Canes' best chance came off a shot from Alex Kuvaev, but Mark Reners was tied up and unable to cash in the loose puck. The Wheaties came out very strong in the period and out shot Lethbridge 18-7, but they were unable to beat Brandon Anderson who was really put to the test. The score would remain 1-0 Wheat Kings after 40 minutes. Brandon held the edge in shots 28-19.
In the third, the Hurricanes finally got some offence going in the final period and would tie it up early. Mark Reners scored his 4th of the season just 1:34 into the period to even the score 1-1. The Wheaties though would get that goal back not too long after when Shayne Wiebe fired a nice shot over Anderson and that gave Brandon a 2-1 lead. The Hurricanes would battle back again, this time on the power play. Mitch Maxwell scored his 7th of season with the man advantage to even the score 2-2, making for a very entertaining finish. Both teams would try to end it in regulation, but for the 8th time this season the Hurricanes would have to go to extra time to settle things. In the OT, it didn't take long for the winning goal to be scored. Brandon's Brodie Melnychuk threw the puck at the Canes' net and it was tipped in by Scott Glennie, less than a minute into the extra period and the Wheaties, who never trailed in this game would hold on for a 3-2 victory. Brandon out shot Lethbridge on the night 35-31. The power plays finished: Brandon 0/4 and Lethbridge 1/3.
The Hurricanes battled hard in this game and really, it could've went either way. It was a close contest from start to finish. I see this as a point earned for the Hurricanes as they came back twice from a goal down to tie. The loss drops the Hurricanes record to 10-6-1-3 for 24 points. The loss ends the Canes' four game winning streak, but they have earned points in 5 straight games with the one point in Brandon. The Lethbridge power play was again key. It scored the tying goal mid-way through the period and has now scored 8 times in the Hurricanes past four games. The Canes' had two players leave the game with injury. Graham Hood left in the first period and went for x-rays and Jacob Berglund got hurt in the third. Hurricanes Assistant Coach Chris Chisamore said on the CJOC post-game show last night that we'll find out more Saturday as to the extent of those injuries. Lethbridge was without the services of Defenceman Cason Machacek last night. He sat the game out due to a one game suspension given to him by the WHL for a fighting incident with Calgary's Cody Beach on Wednesday back in Lethbridge. In his place, the Hurricanes called up Manitoba-product Adam Henry. Henry was one of the later cuts by the Canes' in the pre-season. The Canes' also played the majority of the game without Graham Hood.
Next Up
The Hurricanes will close out this quick trip out east with a game tonight in Moose Jaw. After a bit of a slow start to the season, the Warriors have been playing some very good hockey the past few weeks. This will also be Moose Jaw's final WHL season in the Civic Centre, also known as the "Crushed Can". The Warriors will be moving into a brand new rink next season in downtown Moose Jaw. Barring a play-off meeting, this will be the Hurricanes last two trips ever to the old Civic Centre, the first of which is this evening. The Canes' will return to Moose Jaw one more time in late January. Game time tonight is 6:00 pm (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 5:30.
Canes' in the Community
The Hurricanes will be out and about around Lethbridge over the next few weeks taking part in a number of events. Some of the team's veteran players will be involved in a "Positive Role Model" program at a number of local schools. The goal is too hammer home to kids the importance of making strong life choices and avoiding things likes drugs and alcohol. On Monday morning, some players will be stopping by Nicholas Sheran Community School on the westside and on Tuesday they'll be at Westminster Elementary for presentations and to play a little floor hockey!
The Hurricanes 2nd annual "Pink in the Rink" event takes place next weekend. The Canes' will wear special pink jerseys in support of the fight against breast cancer. The jerseys will be auctioned off in a silent auction at the end of the Hurricanes home game November 20th against Saskatoon. All the money raised will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
(Information submitted by Ryan Ohashi, Hurricanes Director of Media Relations)
Thanks,
Pat
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Good for the Canes to get a point in a tough rink, and good for Scott Glennie. Of course this is what great players do, they score at important times and to win games.
ReplyDeleteThis is what Fyten did to win us the playoff series against Calgary a couple years ago, and Maxwell did it in OT against Calgary a couple of nights ago.
Now it is Braes turn to get inspired. If we can somehow stick with Moose Jaw in this one, I hope he is the difference-maker. He is probably getting psyched to play with Fyten again.