Hurricanes Blank Bedard But Fall 3-2 to Pats
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes played the second of a two-game homestand on Friday in front of a sellout crowd but dropped a 3-2 decision to the Regina Pats at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes entered on a three-game winning streak after earning a 4-1 win over Moose Jaw on Wednesday. Lethbridge had a good start to the game with a flurry of chances in front of the Regina goal but couldn’t beat a scrambly Drew Sim. At the 7:32 mark, the Pats opened the scoring when Alexander Suzdalev set up Sam Oremba from behind the net and Oremba made good on his sixth of the season to make it 1-0 Regina. The Pats nearly doubled their lead with a pair of goal posts, one by Stanislav Svozil and the other by the WHL scoring leader Connor Bedard, on a power play but the ‘Canes were able to hold the Pats to just the one goal in the opening frame, despite outshooting Regina 15-7 in the first period.
Lethbridge had a blazing start to the second period scoring twice in the first two minutes. Just 48-seconds into the middle frame, the ‘Canes tied the game when Tyson Laventure tipped home a Blake Swetlikoff pass to make it 1-1; for Laventure, his 16th goal of the season. Just 58-seconds later, Lethbridge pulled in front as Logan Wormald was set up on a partial breakaway and made good ripping home his team-leading 19th goal of the season to put the ‘Canes in front 2-1; Brayden Edwards and Tristen Doyle earned the assists on the goal. Lethbridge outshot Regina 8-7 in the second period.
In the third, the Pats returned fire scoring two goals in quick succession. Regina tied the game at the 4:36 mark when Suzdalev was set up right off a faceoff as the first-year Russian netted his 27th goal of the season to tie the game 2-2. Just 1:08 later, the Pats struck again as former Hurricane Zack Stringer swatted home a rebound for his third of the season as Regina led 3-2. The ‘Canes pressed in the final ten minutes with a pair of great chances, but Sim stood tall in the Pats crease steering home the come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Hurricanes.
Despite the loss for the Hurricanes, Lethbridge managed to keep Bedard off the scoresheet, which ended his WHL season-long 35 game point streak. Lethbridge outshot Regina 35-25 in the game while going 0/4 on the power play; the Pats were 0/2 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Pats – #91 Alexander Suzdalev (1 goal, 1 assist)
2) ‘Canes – #18 Logan Wormald (1 goal)
3) Pats – #52 Braxton Whitehead (1 assist)
The loss for the Hurricanes ended a three-game winning streak while ending a six-game home point streak. Lethbridge fell to 27-17-3-2 on the season with the defeat while falling to 14-8-1-2 at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes return to action on Saturday when they visit the Medicine Hat Tigers at 7:00pm in the first of three-straight against their Highway-3 rivals. The ‘Canes will welcome the Tigers next Friday, February 10th at 7:00pm. Individual game tickets can be purchased in person at the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, the Yates Memorial Theatre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) and online at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com.
