Canes comeback put on Ice

By Dale Woodard on February 24, 2022.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes provided an entertaining finish.

But spotting the third-ranked team in the country a 3-0 lead proved costly as the Canes fell 3-2 to the Winnipeg Ice in Western Hockey League play Wednesday night at the Enmax Centre.

The Ice jumped out to 2-0 lead after the first period and a 3-0 cushion by the midway point of the second.

The Hurricanes got third period goals from Corson Hopwo – his first as a Hurricane since being acquired at the trade deadline – and Kade Nolan in the opening 10:35 of the third, but despite the late push fell short of the equalizer.

There were chances along the way with a hit post from Hurricanes forward Tyson Laventure in the first period, a goal mouth scramble that the Canes were unable to push across the goal line in the second and another doorstep chance late in the second from Hopwo, but Winnipeg was able to ice the win that improves them to 33-8-2-1, while the Canes fall to 20-23-2-1.

That leaves the Hurricanes tied with the Calgary Hitmen – Friday night’s opponents – for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

“I think if we play the full 60 minutes and don’t have a couple of those lapses in the first, it’s a win for us, said Hopwo. “It’s a full 60-minute effort and if we do that we can come out on top.”

Skyler Bruce got the Ice on the board 3:33 into the first for a quick 1-0 lead.

The Ice struck late in the opening stanza when Conor Geekie tallied with 12 seconds left for a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Winnipeg added to their lead midway through the second when Matthew Savoie made no mistake on a feed from Geekie to make it 3-0 10:50 into the second.

The Canes enjoyed some late-period pressure and thought they might have their first of the game with a little under four minutes to go when Jett Jones tried to stuff a loose puck past Ice goaltender Gage Alexander.

The play briefly went under review before being waved off, keeping the Ice’s 3-0 lead intact.

The Hurricanes nearly struck again late in the second on a chance from Hopwo, but his chance sailed high and wide past Alexander as Winnipeg nursed their 3-0 lead into the third.

But Hopwo wasn’t denied on his next chance midway through as Ty Nash threw a behind-the-net feed out front that Hopwo hammered home for his ninth of the season and first as a Hurricane to cut Winnipeg’s lead to 3-1 8:38 into the third.

“To be honest, I should have scored the first one,” said Hopwo. “But that’s just how my bounces have been going this year. But it was a really great pass by Nash right out front. But I think it was good to get that first one and hopefully string a couple together.”

The Canes got the crowd of 2,534 buzzing a bit more as defenceman Kade Nolan made no mistake off another one timer, this time from Yegor Klavdiev to cut the Ice’s lead to 3-2 with 9:25 to go.

But with goaltender Bryan Thomson on the bench for the extra attacker, time ran out on the Canes’ comeback.

Thomson stopped 35 of 38 Winnipeg shots in the loss, while Alexander made 33 saves.

Both teams were 0-for-5 on the power play.

Savoie added an assist for a two-point night for the Ice, while Zachary Benson added two helpers.

The Hurricanes play their second of three home games in a row when the Hitmen visit the Enmax Centre Friday at 7 p.m. in the battle for eighth in the East.

“I think in third we pushed hard and we played more like how we want to play,” said Hopwo. “If we do that the full game I think we’ll have a better outcome. But it’s going to be a good momentum boost to Calgary and we’re looking forward to it.”

NOTES – the Hurricanes honoured former Canes forward Chase Wheatcroft with a video tribute early in the first period during a TV timeout. Wheatcroft watched the video from the bench and raised his stick to salute the crowd. Wheatcroft was traded to the Ice at this year’s trade deadline. In nine games in Winnipeg he has two goals and three assists.

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