Hurricanes Downed 3-2 in a Shootout by Tigers
Medicine Hat, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes dropped a 3-2 shootout decision on Saturday in Medicine Hat to the Tigers at Co-op Place.
It was the final meeting of the season between the Hurricanes and Tigers and the final of three-straight games between the two Highway-3 rivals. Medicine Hat had a great start to the contest as they opened the scoring just 54-seconds into the first period when Rhett Parsons managed to beat a screened Harrison Meneghin with a wrist-shot from the right point to make it 1-0 Tigers. Lethbridge tied the game with a five-on-three power play goal at the 7:46 mark as Jett Jones banged home a rebound for his 18th goal of the season to make it a 1-1 game; Cole Shepard and Joe Arntsen earned the assists on the goal. Medicine Hat pulled back in front just over three-minutes later as overage forward Brendan Lee ripped home his team-leading 21st goal of the season on a two-on-one to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead after one period. Tigers outshot the Hurricanes 12-11 in the first period.
Lethbridge carried the play in the second period almost doubling Medicine Hat in shots outshooting the Tigers 11-6 in the frame. The Hurricanes had an early power play in the period, but Beckett Langkow stood tall keeping the Tigers in front 2-1. On their fifth power play of the game, and second of the period, the ‘Canes pulled even for the second time as Joe Arntsen netted his ninth of the season – marking a new career-high in goals – to make it a 2-2 game at the 13:07 mark of the second period; Jones and Chase Pauls earned the assists on the goal as the game was tied after forty minutes of play.
The third period felt like a chess match with neither team wanting to make a mistake to cost a goal. The Hurricanes had a few good chances, the best when Anton Astashevich had a drive to the goal and a rebound sat for Blake Swetlikoff but he couldn’t find a go-ahead goal. Medicine Hat had a late power play in the dying minutes with Shepard being penalized for a trip. The Tigers pressed on the man advantage but couldn’t find the winning goal. Lethbridge was outshot 7-6 in the third period as the game went to overtime.
The Tigers had 47-seconds worth of power play time to open the overtime period and the lone shot in the five-minute period came on a great look in the dying seconds of the power play when Andrew Basha was robbed by Harrison Meneghin. Neither team directed another shot on goal in overtime as the game went to a shootout.
In the shootout, the goaltenders were perfect after six rounds. In the seventh round, Astashevich was stopped by Langkow setting up Shane Smith who made no mistake snapping a shot passed the glove of Meneghin to lift the Tigers to the 3-2 shootout victory.
The Hurricanes outshot the Tigers 28-26 in the game. Lethbridge went 2/5 on the power play while Medicine Hat was 0/3 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Tigers – #19 Shane Smith (1 assist, shootout winner)
2) ‘Canes – #7 Joe Arntsen (1 goal, 1 assist)
3) Tigers – #35 Beckett Langkow (26-saves, 7/7 in shootout)
The shootout loss for the Hurricanes was their third defeat in their last four games as they ended the season series with a 5-2-0-1 record in the eight-game series against the Tigers. Lethbridge fell to 12-10-2-1 on the road this season while dropping to 28-18-3-3 on the year. The ‘Canes are now 3-3 in shootouts this season.
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.
