Oil Kings blank the Canes in weekend opener

By Dale Woodard on April 16, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDsports@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Hurricanes will get two more shots to get a little redemption on the Edmonton Oil Kings.

The Canes were blanked 4-0 by the Oil Kings in Western Hockey League play Thursday night at the Enmax Centre, kicking off the first of three games against Central Division leading Edmonton.

The Hurricanes kept it close after 40 minutes with a much improved effort against Edmonton after 7-1 and 7-2 losses to the Oil Kings to start the season back in February. But some late penalty trouble for the hosts and a buzzer beater by Matthew Robertson turned what looked like a 3-0 win into a 4-0 decision as the teams get ready to do it again Saturday night in Edmonton.

Despite the Oil Kings being outshot 30-27, Edmonton goaltender Sebastian Cossa kicked out all 30 that came his way to record the shutout, his first of the season which also keeps his record perfect at 11-0-0-0.

The loss drops the Hurricanes to 6-7-2-0, while Edmonton improves to 13-1-0-0.

However, it was a strong start for the Hurricanes.

Lethbridge had an early chance with a five-on-three for 1:20 when Oil King Logan Dowhaniuk was called for hooking and Jalen Luypen joined him 40 seconds later for slashing.

Despite one goal mouth scramble the Canes were unable to cash in on the man advantage as Edmonton killed off the infractions to keep the game scoreless midway through the first period.

Liam Kindree nearly gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with 7:35 left in the first, taking a feed from Justin Hall in close, but Cossa was able to deny the chance and keep the game scoreless.

The Hurricanes nearly struck again with 4:35 to go when Logan Barlage broke in down the right side and rattled a shot off the post past Cossa.

But as the play continued Barlage was tagged for checking to the head, handing the Oil Kings their first power play of the night.

The Oil Kings turned that man advantage into a 1-0 lead when Carson Latimer tipped a pass from Ethan Cap past Hurricanes goaltender Carl Tetachuk with 3:05 left in the first period.

The Hurricanes outshot the Oil Kings 11-5 in the first period.

The teams skated through a scoreless second period, but with the Hurricanes pressing for the equalizer, the Oil Kings doubled their lead when Jayden Henderson drained his first of the season, poking an in-close feed from Carter Souch past Tetachuk 7:44 into the third for a 2-0 lead.

Some late treks to the penalty box by the Hurricanes allowed the Oil Kings to deliver the dagger as Jalen Luypen had some time to sift a shot past Tetachuk from the right circle with 5:22 remaining to make it 3-0.

Then with the final seconds ticking down, the Oil Kings snuck one in just before the buzzer on Robertson’s third of the season.

Luypen added an assist for a two point night, while Souch and Cap each had two helpers.

Tetachuk stopped 23 of 27 shots.

The Hurricanes were 0-for-4 on the powerplay, while the Oil Kings scored on three of seven chances.

The teams are back at it Saturday night in Edmonton at 7 p.m. before the weekend series wraps up Sunday at 7 p.m. back at the Enmax Centre.

The Hurricanes were without captain Dino Kambeitz for Thursday’s game and will be without him for Saturday’s game as Kambeitz serves a two-game suspension for a game misconduct he was assessed in Monday’s 8-5 win over the Red Deer Rebels at the Enmax Centre.

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