Hurricanes Blank Tigers 3-0 on Friday
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes ended a two-game losing streak on Friday night with a 3-0 shutout victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes honoured the 1983 Lethbridge Broncos championship team on Friday by wearing the throwback Bronco jerseys while highlighting select members of the team with a special pregame ceremony. Lethbridge had a slow start to the game as Medicine Hat – who entered 6-0-2-0 in their previous eight games – had a good push including a power play in the opening minutes, but Bryan Thomson was strong early keeping the game scoreless. The ‘Canes had a pair of power play opportunities in the first period but also couldn’t solve Evan May as the first period was scoreless after twenty minutes. Lethbridge wad outshot 9-8 in the first period.
Lethbridge opened the scoring early in the second period when Cole Shepard finished a centering pass from Jett Jones on a two-on-one shorthanded just 3:28 into the middle frame; Nolan Bentham earned the second assist on the goal to make it 1-0. Just over six minutes later, the Hurricanes added another as Trae Wilke swatted home a loose puck in front of the net cashing his first goal of the season at the 9:53 mark; Dustin Renas and Brayden Edwards were credited with the helpers. Medicine Hat pushed back with a great power play as they tried to cut the lead in half, but a combination of great goaltender by Thomson along with a pair of goal posts kept Lethbridge in front 2-0 after two periods. The Tigers held the edge in shots 13-6 in the second period.
In the third, the Hurricanes outshot the Tigers 10-7 but it was Medicine Hat that continued to push to get on the board. Bogdans Hodass and Dru Krebs both hit goal posts in the final frame to keep the Tigers off the board. Lethbridge added a power play goal midway through the period when Tyson Laventure buried his team-leading 10th power play goal, and 18th of the season, to give the ‘Canes a 3-0 lead; Shepard and Joe Arntsen picked up the assists on the goal. Thomson remained tall in the ‘Canes crease making a pair of late saves to preserve the 3-0 victory and the third shutout of his career.
The Hurricanes were outshot 29-24 in the game. Lethbridge went 1/4 with the power play while Medicine Hat was 0/4 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #30 Bryan Thomson (29-save, shutout)
2) ‘Canes – #27 Cole Shepard (1 goal, 1 assist)
3) ‘Canes – #7 Joe Arntsen (1 assist)
The victory for the Hurricanes ended a two-game losing streak in regulation as it improved their home-ice record to 16-8-1-2 on the season. Lethbridge improved to 5-2-0-0 against Medicine Hat this year while lifting their overall record to 28-18-3-2 on the campaign.
The Hurricanes will visit the Tigers in the final of three-straight meetings and the final of eight head-to-head meetings on the year on Saturday at 7:00pm at Co-op Place. Lethbridge will return to the ENMAX Centre on Wednesday, February 15th when they welcome the Calgary Hitmen 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.
