By Lethbridge Herald on February 18, 2020.
Lethbridge Herald
The gap in the race for first place in the Western Hockey League Central Division just widened a bit for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
On the plus side, however, the Canes are officially in the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
The Canes were topped 5-3 by the Edmonton Oil Kings in WHL Family Day afternoon play Monday in Edmonton with a hat trick performance from Josh Williams.
Hurricanes forward Brett Davis scored twice for the visitors, but the Oil Kings scored three times in the first period and twice more in the third to seal the win.
The loss caps off a busy three-game weekend for the Hurricanes after a 1-1 split with the Winnipeg Ice at the Enmax Centre and puts them at 34-14-2-5, eight points back of the Central Division-leading Oil Kings (37-9-6-3).
But with a Regina Pats 2-1 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings Monday the Canes are guaranteed at least a wild card spot.
On Monday, Davis got the Hurricanes on the board first, but Williams scored his first two and Wyatt McLeod added another for a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Davis scored the lone goal of the second — his 19th of the season — but Williams netted his third and Jake Neighbours struck for another as the Oil Kings pulled away.
Hurricanes defenceman and Edmonton product Koletrane Wilson rounded out the scoring with his seventh of the year with 56 seconds remaining.
Lethbridge goaltender Carl Tetachuk stopped 39 of 44 shots, while in the Oil Kings crease Beck Warm made 27 saves.
The Hurricanes power play was 0-for-2. The Oil Kings were 1-for-4 on the man advantage.
The Canes are back at the Enmax Centre Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when the Spokane Chiefs come to town.