Hurricanes Down Wheat Kings 3-1 Friday
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes earned their second-straight victory on Friday earning a 3-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings at the ENMAX Centre.
It was the final of a brief two-game homestand for the Hurricanes who earned a 3-0 shutout win on Wednesday over the Calgary Hitmen. Lethbridge – like on Wednesday – was outshot 14-6 in the first period. The Hurricanes opened the scoring at the 5:43 mark when Brayden Edwards cashed in a rebound for his fifth goal of the season – and first in 17-games – to make it 1-0; Logan Wormald and Miguel Marques picked up the assists on the goal. Brandon pulled even with a power play goal at the 10:59 mark when Calder Anderson snapped one by a screened Bryan Thomson, ending his shutout streak at 145:26 as the game was tied 1-1 after twenty minutes of play.
The ‘Canes outshot the Wheaties 11-9 in the middle frame and added to their lead just 1:29 into the period. Blake Swetlikoff rifled home his 10th goal of the season beating Nicholas Jones to make it a 2-1 Lethbridge advantage; Logan McCutcheon and Nolan Bentham earned the assists on the goal. Just over nine minutes later, Swetlikoff struck again tapping home his second of the night – and second career multi-goal game – to make a 3-1 lead; Cole Shepard and Joe Arntsen were credited with the helpers on the goal. Brandon had a pair of power plays in the second half of the period but failed to capitalize with both chances.
In the third period, the Wheat Kings had an early power play opportunity, but the Hurricanes were able to keep Brandon at bay. The ‘Canes looked for a put away goal on a power play of their own late in the third period but couldn’t musted a fourth goal. Brandon pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker late in the game but couldn’t cut into the Lethbridge lead as the ‘Canes hung on to the 3-1 victory.
Shots were even 8-8 in the third period; Lethbridge was outshot 31-25 in the game. The ‘Canes went 0/4 on the power play while the Wheaties went 1/4 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #26 Blake Swetlikoff (2 goals)
2) ‘Canes – #30 Bryan Thomson (30-saves)
3) ‘Canes – #7 Joe Arntsen (1 assist)
The win for the Hurricanes was their second-straight victory as they improved to 3-0-0-1 in their last four games. Lethbridge improved to 18-8-1-2 at the ENMAX Centre this season while improving their overall record to 30-18-3-3 – the seventh straight season (not including the shortened 2021 season) that the ‘Canes have reached the 30-win mark. The ‘Canes finished the season with a 3-1-0-0 record against the Wheat Kings.
Lethbridge will open a two-game road trip on Monday afternoon at 1:00pm MT when they visit the Regina Pats at the Brandt Centre. The Hurricanes will return to the ENMAX Centre on Friday, February 24th when they host the Kamloops Blazers 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.
