Hitmen double up on the Hurricanes

By Dale Woodard on April 24, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDsports@lethbridgeherald.com

The numbers game was front-and-centre as the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Calgary Hitmen clashed in their first of three Western Hockey League weekend games Friday afternoon in Calgary.

The Hitmen, however, won the most important numbers game via a 6-3 win over the Canes as the two teams get ready to go back at it tonight at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre.

Playing their first game in 18 days after a positive COVID-19 test in their cohort suspended their operations, the Hitmen lit the Canes up for four goals in a span of 3:11 in the first period for a quick 4-0 lead. That just as quickly chased Lethbridge starting goaltender Carl Tetachuk in favor of backup Jared Picklyk.

What looked like a potential blowout for the hosts turned into a potential rally for the visitors as the Hurricanes potted a trio of goals in the second period to trim the Hitmen’s lead to 4-3.

But Calgary added one more at the end of the second period and sealed the win with an empty-netter with one second to go in a loss that drops the Hurricanes to 7-9-2-0. The Hitmen are now 7-6-2-0 with the win.

In keeping with the stats side of things, Hurricanes veteran defenseman Alex Cotton netted Lethbridge’s first two goals to hit the 100-point career mark and surpass former blue-liner Igor Merezhko in franchise scoring for defencemen.

The Detroit Red Wings prospect’s second goal was originally credited to Ty Nash before being changed back.

But it was the Hitmen that assumed command early as Josh Prokop and Cael Zimmerman each scored once and Adam Kydd added a pair in a little over three minutes for a 4-0 lead by the 10:52 mark of the first.

The Canes made a game of it in the second as Cotton scored his first of the game and sixth of the season to make it 4-1 5:32 into the second.

Cotton added another a little under two minutes later before Hurricanes captain Dino Kambeitz scored his team’s first shorthanded goal of the year to cut Calgary’s lead to 4-3 with 7:13 left in the second.

But Hitmen rookie Brandon Whynott scored his first career WHL goal with 57 seconds left in the second to put Calgary up by two before Riley Stotts added the empty-netter with the final seconds ticking down.

Nash had two assists for the Hurricanes in the loss.

For the Hitmen, Luke Prokop and Sean Tschigerl had two assists each.

The Hitmen outshot the Hurricanes 36-34. Lethbridge’s power play was 0-for-3, while Calgary was 1-for-3.

Tetachuk stopped eight of 12 shots before getting the hook in favor of Picklyk, who kicked out 22 of 23 shots.

Hitmen goaltender, Taber product and former Lethbridge midget AAA Hurricane Brayden Peters earned the win to improve his record to 5-4-1-0, making 31 saves.

After tonight’s game, the Canes and Hitmen complete the weekend Sunday back in Calgary at 7 p.m.

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