Hurricanes tame Wild with 5-1 win

By Lethbridge Herald on November 10, 2023.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge HurricanesÕ Miguel Marques attempts a shot that was partially blocked by Landon Young of the Wenatchee Wild during Western Hockey League action at the Enmax Centre on Friday night.

By  Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Hurricanes snapped a four-game home losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Wenatchee Wild on Friday night at the Enmax Centre.

This game could have easily tilted in favour of the Wild in the third period as  they fired 22 shots on goal, but it was time and time again that Harrison Meneghin came up with big saves in the final frame and throughout the game.

“Well you know what he’s been solid all year,” said  Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters.

“We’ve got all the confidence in the world in Harry. We would’ve  like to have been better in front of him  here tonight and we will be when we go on the trip. We’re going to get some bodies back and that’s going to help immensely. So look forward to getting a full line-up and being able to play some guys that are fresh. So it’ll be good.”

The win came at an opportune time for the club as they now embark on the five-game road trip through British Columbia beginning next Friday in Victoria.

“Yeah, it’s really good,” said Peters.

“We don’t play until the weekend now. So we get a little bit of time to practice and it’ll give those guys that have been out a little bit more time  to heal up and I anticipate them being ready for Victoria.”

The Hurricanes got off to a good start when Miguel Marques, with the help of a skate pass from Leo Braillard, went in and deked to the backhand and put the puck top shelf  for his fifth of the season on at 13:59 of the first period.

The Wild replied 41 seconds into the second period when an Evan Friesen wrist shot from the point found its way over the shoulder of Canes goaltender Harrison Meneghin on the powerplay.

Kenta Isogai and Conor Geekie drew the assists on the powerplay goal.

Blake Swetlikoff gave the Canes a 2-1 lead with his second of the season 3:04 into the second period from Trae Wilke and Dustin Renas.

Kooper Gizowski scored on the powerplay to make the score 3-1 Canes at 16:11 of the second from Tristen Doyle and Logan McCutcheon.

Marques scored an empty netter at 18:54 of the third while Gizowski also got his second of the game with two seconds left to seal the win.

“I think we came out with a lot more jump,” said Marques.

“We’re sick of losing, we’re sick of having those tight games where we’re not playing good, we’re not doing our best, and tonight we had to come out and set the tone for our road trip coming up, and in front of our  home fans that’s an incredible way to do it.”

The Hurricanes fired 22 shots the way of the Wild net, while Wenatchee fired 42 at Meneghin.

Lethbridge went 1-for-2 and the Wild went 1-for-5 on the powerplay.