LETHBRIDGE - Two power play goals in the third period completed the comeback as the Hurricanes rallied to beat the Kootenay ICE 5-4 Wednesday night at the ENMAX Centre
Not a good start for the Hurricanes in this one, but they can thank goaltender Liam Liston for keeping them in the first period. Lethbridge didn't register it's first shot until more than 11 minutes in. Kootenay would open the scoring with a goal by rookie Sam Reinhart, as he flipped a wrist shot by Liston to make it 1-0 ICE. The Hurricanes got that one back on a beautiful goal by Jamal Watson. He picked the puck up at centre ice and with blazing speed, beat two Kootenay defencemen and put it by Mackenzie Skapski to tie the game at 1-1. It was Watson's 7th of the season. That didn't last too long. Just 17 seconds later, Kootenay would regain the one goal lead. Joe Antilla's shot beat Liston to give the visitors a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. Lethbridge was heavily out shot 14-5 in that first period.
In the second, the ICE would increase their lead to 3-1. John Neibrandt took a drop pass in front of the Lethbridge and blew the shot by Liston, giving Kootenay a two goal lead for the first time in this game. The Hurricanes kept plugging away and they'd get that one back. The same line that scored the Canes first goal would get their second, when Craig Leverton knocked in the puck for his 3rd goal of the season. That cut the ICE lead to 3-2. A little while later the Hurricanes would get a power play, but it would be Kootenay scoring shorthanded. Jesse Ismond grabbed the puck at centre and moved in and beat Liston to give the ICE a 4-2 lead. Before the end of the period though, the Hurricanes would get one more with Jaimen Yakubowski's 10th of season to cut the ICE lead to 4-3 after two periods of play. Kootenay held the edge in shots 20-14.
In the third, the Hurricanes would put on the full course press to fight their way back into the game. They would get the equalizer with one second to go on a power play when Brody Sutter scored his team-leading 21st of the season to tie the game at 4-4. Both teams continued to battle hard to get the go ahead goal and with about 4 minutes remaining in the game, Lethbridge would get another power play goal, this time from Phil Tot, his 10th of the season to give Lethbridge it's first lead of the night and that's the way the game would end. It was the first time this season the Hurricanes have won a game when trailing after two periods of play. The power plays were the difference. Lethbridge finished the night 2 for 6 with the man advantage while the ICE went 0 for 5. The victory improved the Hurricanes overall record to 19-30-0-1 on the season, and now one game over .500 on home ice.
NEXT UP: HERITAGE GAME
The Lethbridge Hurricanes will pay tribute to the Lethbridge Sugar Kings during their next game Friday night at the ENAMX Centre when they play host to the Medicine Hat Tigers. For this one game only, the Canes will wear a special replica Sugar Kings jersey. Those jerseys are currently being auctioned off online at www.hurricanesauction.com. Puck drop on Friday night will be around 7:10 (MST) after a short pre-game ceremony. The pre-game show on CJOC starts at 6:30. The Hurricanes will host Prince Albert on Saturday. They'll head out to Saskatchewan and Manitoba next week to open up the February portion of their schedule.
Thanks,
Pat
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Great game for the 4 line, all ended at +2. Not so good for the Sutter line, they all ended at -2. Anyones opinion of Brody change. Yes he did score but other than that did nothing. I am not sure he touched anyone all night. AJ
ReplyDeleteI thought Sutter as most of the vets started very slow. They responded in the third period and we won (good enough for me). I thought this game was a great confidence builder for the rest of this year and next. I am also happy with the goalie situation. Liston played well and sounded ever better in the post game show. Still think we should draft a tender this spring with Moose Jaws pick (should the draft grade say so).
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the Tigers.
AJ yes the Sutter line did not show up for the first period but later in the game the did provide some impact. The impact was on the score sheet as well as along the boards.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the game all four lines were playing well. I am not the only one saying this as Chris Chisamore commented the same thing on Pat's show at the end of the game.
The whole team had bus legs in the first period but they really tightened up in the second and third and showed great resiliance against a very good Ice team. It was a character building win and to win with the group that played last night bodes well for next year. That was next years team with the exception of Sutter and two 19 year olds....this year we had 9 first year players next year maybe only 3 or 4....looks promising! TD
ReplyDeleteWas trying to make it to the game in time for the second half of the game, but got stuck working late (sigh). Sounded like a great 3rd period!!
ReplyDeleteI can't comment on any of the game situations (obviously), but I can say that I like seeing Liston in the net again. If he's the goalie of next year, he needs to play more than Ketlo. The last thing this organization needs is to go into next year's season not knowing what they've got in net. I say that with the past two years in mind, but especially this year. It seemed like the GM waited until the start of the year to do anything about the shoddy situation before finally acquiring Ketlo.
Anyway.....that's a long-winded comment. My point is that I would hope Liston plays 80% of the remaining games to see what he's got for next year.
Go Canes go!