Hurricanes Get By Tigers 6-4
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes ended a three-game homestand on Friday with a come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers at the ENMAX Centre.
Hurricanes netminder Jared Picklyk got the start, his fourth of the season and first in nearly a month. It didn’t start great for Picklyk who as the Tigers jumped out to an early lead just 50-seconds into the game as Lukas Svjekovsky buried a shorthanded goal to make it 1-0 Medicine Hat. The ‘Canes gave up another goal just moments later as Reid Andresen snuck one home from a sharp angle to make it 2-0 Tigers just 3:27 into the game. Lethbridge answered back as they cut the Medicine Hat lead in half as Justin Hall – who played in his 150th career game – tapped home his team-leading 11th of the season while on a five-on-three power play to make it 2-1; Alex Thacker and Joe Arntsen picked up the assists on the game. The Hurricanes outshot the Tigers 18-7 in the first period but trailed by one after one.
Early in the second period, the Hurricanes tied the game as Logan Barlage deflected an Arntsen point shot passed Beckett Langkow to make it 2-2 just 3:27 into the middle frame. The ‘Canes took their first lead of the game when Ty Nash scored his eighth of the season on a power play to make it 3-2 but just 33-seconds later the Tigers Oren Shtrom buried his sixth to tie it right back up. Lethbridge retook the lead with 1:11 left in the frame when Jett Jones stole the puck and hooked home seventh of the season as the Hurricanes led 4-3 after two periods. Medicine Hat outshot Lethbridge 12-6 in the second period.
The teams traded chances in the third period which saw Medicine Hat outshoot Lethbridge 12-8. The Hurricanes built on their lead when Hall netted his second goal of the game and his 100th career point to make it 5-3; Logan Wormald and Chase Wheatcroft earned the helpers. The ‘Canes struck again just moments later when Noah Boyko ripped home his 10th of the season matching his two-time career-high to make it 6-3. The Tigers added a late power play goal by Brayden Boehm before pulling the goaltender to attempt a comeback but to no avail as the ‘Canes hung on to a 6-4 victory.
The Hurricanes outshot the Tigers 32-31. Lethbridge was 3/6 on the power play while going 3/4 on the penalty kill.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #9 Justin Hall (2 goals)
2) ‘Canes – #7 Joe Arntsen (2 assists)
3) ‘Canes – #17 Jett Jones (1 goal, 1 assist)
The win for the Hurricanes was their seventh come-from-behind victory of the season and the ninth time the ‘Canes have collected at least a point when trailing in a game. The victory improved the Hurricanes record to 11-11-2-0 on the season and are 6-2-2-0 in their last ten games.
The ‘Canes will visit the Tigers on Saturday at 7:00pm in the second of their home-and-home set to go into the Christmas break. The Hurricanes will return to the ENMAX Centre on Tuesday, December 28th when they welcome the Swift Current Broncos. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, the Yates Memorial Theatre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com.
