Hurricanes Edge Cougars 4-3 in OT
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes earned their second-straight victory on Friday defeating the Prince George Cougars 4-3 in overtime at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes opened a three-in-three weekend on Friday as they entered with a 1-1-0-1 record in the first three games of a five-game homestand. Lethbridge had a great start to the game outshooting Prince George 5-0 in the early going but it was the Cougars that struck first at the 6:11 mark when an Ethan Samson shot found it’s way by a screened Bryan Thomson to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead on their first shot of the game. The Hurricanes tied the game at the midway point of the frame when Miguel Marques tapped home his fourth goal of the year on a centering pass from Blake Swetlikoff to make it 1-1; for Marques, the goal not only ended a 10-game goal drought but was his first against his hometown team. The Hurricanes had a few more good looks as the period went but Coaldale product Ty Young stood tall keeping the game tied after twenty minutes. Lethbridge outshot Prince George 13-7 in the first period.
Early in the second period the Hurricanes took their first lead as Tristan Zandee buried a centering pass from Anton Astashevich just 5:06 into the frame to put Lethbridge ahead 2-1; Swetlikoff earned the secondary assist on the goal. Just over four-minutes later, Prince George tied the game with a power play goal by former Hurricane Chase Wheatcroft, who netted his league-leading 16th power play goal of the season, to make it 2-2. However, just 1:09 after the Wheatcroft goal, the Hurricanes pulled back in front as Astashevich ripped home his fourth goal of the season beating Young over the glove to make it 3-2; Zandee and Swetlikoff picked up the helpers on the goal. Lethbridge was outshot by Prince George 10-8 in the middle frame, but the ‘Canes led 3-2 after forty minutes.
Prince George came out firing in the third period peppering Thomson who was sharp in the final twenty minutes. The Cougars outshot the Hurricanes 17-9 in the final period. Prince George had an early power play opportunity when Marques was assessed a slashing penalty, but the Cougars failed to capitalize with the extra man. Near the midway point of the period, the Cougars tied the game at the 7:18 mark when Riley Heidt finished on a three-on-two after ripping a one-timer on a pass from Koehn Ziemmer to make it a 3-3 game.
Neither team found a go-ahead goal in the third period as the game went to overtime. Early in the extra session, the Hurricanes found a winner when Tyson Laventure tucked home a puck in front through Young to give the ‘Canes a 4-3 victory; Swetlikoff picked up his fourth assist of the game on the goal, matching a career-high for points in a game, while Logan McCutcheon earned the second assist on the winner.
The Hurricanes were outshot 34-31 in the game by the Cougars. Lethbridge did not have a power play opportunity while Prince George went 1/3 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #26 Blake Swetlikoff (4 assists)
2) ‘Canes – #10 Anton Astashevich (1 goal, 1 assist)
3) Cougars – #27 Riley Heidt (1 goal, 1 assist)
The victory for the Hurricanes improved their record to 2-1-0-1 in the first four games of their five-game homestand while improving to 13-7-0-2 overall at home this season. Lethbridge improved to 23-15-0-2 overall on the season.
The Hurricanes will end their five-game homestand on Saturday when they welcome the Central Division leading Red Deer Rebels to the ENMAX Centre at 7:00pm before opening a four-game road trip in Calgary against the Hitmen on Sunday afternoon. 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.
