Hurricanes Fall 4-3 in Overtime to Silvertips
Everett, WA – The Lethbridge Hurricanes kicked off a United States swing on Wednesday with a 4-3 overtime loss in Everett against the Silvertips at the Angel of the Winds Arena.
It was the first visit to Everett for the Hurricanes in four years dating back to January of 2019. The ‘Canes entered 3-0-1-0 in their previous four games, but it was the Silvertips who had a great first period. Everett jumped out to an early lead as defenceman Ty Gibson beat a screened Harrison Meneghin to make it 1-0 Silvertips at the 7:32 mark; Ben Hemmerling earned the only assist on the goal. The Hurricanes, who were on their heels in the first period, gave the ‘Tips a pair of power plays but the ‘Canes were able to kill both penalties to keep it a one-goal deficit after one period of play. Everett outshot Lethbridge 15-7 in the first period.
Lethbridge reversed course in the second period taking it to the Silvertips and outshooting them 16-9. The ‘Canes had a plethora of great chances in the middle frame including an odd-man rush which saw Brayden Edwards deflect a shot off the crossbar – his third straight game with a goal post. Late in the frame, Tyson Zimmer was sprung on a breakaway on a great pass by Logan McCutcheon but Zimmer was hauled down resulting on the first penalty shot of the season for the ‘Canes. On the ensuing penalty shot, Zimmer made a move to the backhand but was stymied by Everett goaltender Tyler Palmer to keep the game a 1-0 lead. However, in the final minute, the ‘Canes eventually found an equalizer as Zimmer centered a pass to Jett Jones at the side of the net and the Hurricanes co-captain stuffed home his 16th goal of the season with 25-seconds left in the frame to make it a 1-1 tie; Noah Chadwick earned the second assist on the goal as the game was even after forty minutes of play.
In the third period, the flood gates opened as the two teams combined for four goals. Just 1:17 into the third, the Silvertips pulled ahead as Hemmerling banged home a rebound to put Everett ahead 2-1. Just over a minute-and-a-half later, Lethbridge responded on a slapshot goal by Joe Arntsen who ripped home his seventh goal of the season to make it 2-2; Tristan Zandee and Anton Astashevich earned the helpers on the goal. The Hurricanes were given their only power play opportunity of the game near the midway point of the frame, but it was the Silvertips that cashed in on a shorthanded goal when Raphael Pelletier sniped home his 12th goal of the season to make it a 3-2 game. The ‘Canes pulled the goaltender late for the extra attacker and with 42-seconds remaining scored a six-on-five goal as Logan Wormald buried a one-timer passed Palmer to make it 3-3 and to force overtime. Lethbridge held the edge in shots 17-7 in the third period.
The game marked the third time in four games that the Hurricanes had skated passed sixty-minutes. After the teams traded chances early in overtime, the Silvertips found the winner as Hemmerling completed a four-point night firing a shot over the blocker of Meneghin to lift Everett to a 4-3 overtime victory.
The Hurricanes outshot the Silvertips 41-32 in the contest. Lethbridge went 0/1 on the power play while Everett was 0/2 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Tips – #9 Ben Hemmerling (2 goals, 2 assists)
2) ‘Tips – #31 Tyler Palmer (38-saves)
3) ‘Canes – #21 Tyson Zimmer (2 assists)
The overtime loss for the Hurricanes dropped their record to 24-15-2-2 on the season while extending their point streak to five games having gone 3-0-2-0 in that span. Lethbridge is now 11-8-1-0 on the road this season while going 8-3-1-0 in their last 12 away from home.
The Hurricanes continue their three-game US Division swing in Seattle against the Thunderbirds at 8:00pm MT before ending the trip Saturday in Portland. The ‘Canes will return home to host the Winnipeg ICE on Friday, January 27th 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.
