Hurricanes Down Oil Kings 4-3

Stuart Skinner put on a goaltending clinic as the Lethbridge Hurricanes beat the defending Memorial Cup Champs 4-3 in Edmonton Tuesday night.

The Canes were under fire all night long, but Skinner was there to steal the win for his team.

After a scoreless opening period, the Hurricanes got the offence going with a pair of goals in the second. Carter Folk opened the scoring just 51 seconds into the second period when he put home his 7th of season to give Lethbridge a 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later, Riley Lindgren scored his first of two on the night to give the visitors a very quick 2-0 lead to open the period. Before the period would end, Edmonton came charging back to even the score. Edgars Kulda scored to cut the Canes lead to 2-1 and then a power play goal from Brandon Baddock in the final few minutes tied the game at 2-2 through 40 minutes of play.

In the third, the Hurricanes regained the lead when prospect Ryan Vandervlis scored his first-ever Western Hockey League goal. That gave the Canes a 3-2 lead. Two minutes after that, Lethbridge scored what ended up being the game winning goal when Riley Lindgren put home his second of the game and 4th of the season to make it 4-2 Canes. Edmonton put on the pressure trying to get back into the game. Brett Pollock scored a shorthanded goal for the Oil Kings in the final few minutes, but that's as close as they would get. The Hurricanes would win 4-3.

Skinner was outstanding between the pipes as the Oil Kings out shot Lethbridge 52-21. The victory improves the Canes record to 13-30-3-3 on the season. The victory is one more than the club's entire win total from last year.  The Hurricanes went 0/3 on the power play and Edmonton 1/4 including a shorthanded goal.

The Canes next action is at home Friday (Feb. 6) when they host rival Medicine Hat. They'll play in Medicine Hat Saturday (Feb. 7) and return home for their 3rd game in three days Sunday (Feb. 8) to host the Eastern Conference-leading Brandon Wheat Kings.

Thanks,
Pat