Hurricanes Comeback Falls Short in 5-3 Loss to Warriors
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes opened a five-game homestand on Wednesday with a 5-3 loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes returned home after splitting a two-game road trip in Swift Current and Edmonton over the weekend. Lethbridge had a great start to the game scoring first at the 7:27 mark when Tyson Zimmer centered to Jett Jones in front and the ‘Canes co-captain tucked home his team-leading 15th goal of the season to make it 1-0; Tristan Zandee earned the second assist on the goal. Just under six-minutes later, the Warriors evened the game when Maximus Wanner snapped home his seventh of the season to tie it 1-1. Moose Jaw pulled in front with 1:17 left in the opening frame when Atley Calvert scored his first of two goals in the game to five the Warriors a 2-1 lead after twenty minutes of play.
Early in the second period, the Warriors continued to pour it on when Eric Alarie was found all alone in front of the net and deked to slip on by Harrison Meneghin just 2:40 into the frame to make it 3-1. At the midway point of the second, Moose Jaw added a power play goal when Calvert redirected a Denton Mateychuk point shot to give the Warriors a convincing 4-1 lead. However, the Hurricanes answered with a goal late in the period as Anton Astashevich snapped a 25-game goal drought when he rifled home his third goal of the season over the shoulder of Warriors netminder Connor Ungar to make it 4-2; Brayden Edwards and Tristen Doyle were credited with the assists on the goal. Moose Jaw outshot Lethbridge 15-5 in the middle stanza.
Lethbridge continued to chip away on the Moose Jaw lead in the third period as Chase Pauls scored his fourth goal of the season beating a screened Ungar to make it a one-goal game at the 9:04 mark of the final twenty minutes; Miguel Marques and Joe Arntsen earned the helpers on the goal. The one-goal game last just 1:02 as Moose Jaw restored a two-goal lead with a goal off the rush as Calvert fed Alarie back-door on a partial three-on-two to make it 5-3 with Alarie’s second of the game. The Hurricanes had a late power play and pulled the goaltender for a six-on-four attack but couldn’t solve the Moose Jaw goalie as the Warriors hung on to the 5-3 victory.
The Hurricanes outshot the Warriors 10-6 in the third period, but Moose Jaw held the edge 29-22 in the contest. Lethbridge went 0/2 on the power play while the Warriors were 1/4 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Warriors – #23 Atley Calvert (2 goals, 2 assists)
2) Warriors – #8 Eric Alarie (2 goals)
3) ‘Canes – #27 Cole Shepard
The loss for the Hurricanes was their fourth defeat in their last seven games as they fell to 21-15-0-1 on the season. Lethbridge falls to 11-7-0-1 on home ice this season and 16-7-0-1 in their last 24 games. The ‘Canes are now 0-2-0-0 against the Warriors this season.
The Hurricanes continue a five-game homestand on Saturday at 7:00pm when they welcome the Edmonton Oil Kings at the ENMAX Centre. 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.
