Hurricanes Lose 7-3 to Tri-City Americans

LETHBRIDGE - The Hurricanes played most of the night with the Tri-City Americans, but the Ams were too much in the 3rd period as they blew the game open and cruised to a 7-3 victory.

The Tri-City Americans would draw first blood in this hockey game. Just over 3 minutes in, Zach Yuen took a pass from behind the Lethbridge goal and hammered a slapper by Damien Ketlo to give the Ams a 1-0 lead. Tri-City would soon after jump ahead by a pair. Justin Feser let a laser go from the point on a power play, off the post and in making it 2-0 Americans. Lethbridge would get one of those back before the end of the period. Jay Merkley cashed home his 3rd of season off a nice pass from Juraj Bezuch. That made it 2-1 Tri-City. With just a few seconds to go in the period, Tri-City scored again, but the goal was called back after video review after the video replay clearly showed the puck was directed in off the arm of Brendan Shinnimin. That's the way the period would end. Lethbridge out shot Tri-City 8-5.

In the second, the Hurricanes tied the game on a power play of their own. Brody Sutter fired a backhander upstairs on Ams rookie goalie Eric Comrie to even the score at 2-2. That was Sutter's 7th goal of the season. The Americans would get both of those goals back in rather short order. First Jordan Messier scored to make it 3-2 Tri-City and on the power play, Zach Yuen would get his second of the night to give the Americans their two goal lead back, this time 4-2. The Hurricanes would continue to battle with one the top teams in the CHL. The Canes Nick Buonassisi was awarded a penalty shot and scored his 5th of the season on the power play to make it a 4-3 game in favour of the Americans. That's the way the period would end. Tri-City held a slight edge in shots 18-16.

In the third, Tri-City jumped ahead by a pair again. Mitch Topping fired a point shot low along the ice, beating Ketlo between the legs to make it 5-3 Americans. The Ams would increase their lead by three. Malte Stromwall tipped the puck by Ketlo late in the period to give Tri-City a 6-3 lead. The Americans would get one more. Lethbridge native Patrick Holland scored shorthanded to make it 7-3 and that's the way the game would end. Tri-City dominated the 3rd period, out shooting Lethbridge 18-0 in the final frame. The final shots favoured the Ams 36-16. The power plays were decent for both teams. Tri-City went 2/7 and Lethbridge 2/8. The Canes have lost 4 in a row and have just one victory in their last 18 games.

This was a pretty fun game to watch for the most part. The Hurricanes played shot for shot and goal for goal with one of the top teams in the CHL for the first 40 minutes, but this game drastically changed in third period.

The Hurricanes had four scratches Saturday. Tanner Kovacs, Tyler Kizuik, and Craig Leverton were all healthy scratches. Max Moline still has a lower body injury and sat out the game against the Ams. He's been sidelined for over a month. Michael Sofillas who hasn't played yet this season was sent back home to Manitoba to recoup from a concussion he sufffered last season.

NEXT UP

The Hurricanes will play a rare Sunday afternoon game (Nov. 13) in Calgary against the Hitmen. This will be the second match-up of the season between the two teams. The Hurricanes won a high scoring game 6-5 back on September 30th at the ENMAX Centre. Game time from the Saddledome is 2:00 pm (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 1:30. The Hurricanes next six games after that are against Red Deer and Edmonton. The Rebels will be in Lethbridge on Friday (Nov. 18) and the Oil Kings are in town on Saturday (Nov. 19).

Thanks,
Pat