Third period comeback propels Oil Kings over Canes

By Lethbridge Herald on November 21, 2022.

Herald Photo By Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes Tyson Laventure has a chance in tight against Edmonton Oil Kings goalie Kolby Hay on Saturday night at the Enmax Centre.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes let a lead slip away on route to a 4-2 loss to the lowly Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday night at the Enmax Centre.

Lethbridge had a 2-1 lead heading into third period, only to see the Oil Kings score three unanswered goals to gain their fourth win of the year.

“Just our overall battle and compete wasn’t there and not for our expectations and it needs to be a lot better,” said Matt Anholt, Hurricanes assistant coach.

“I just think you can’t take anybody lightly. You’ve got to play your own team’s game — you know, a little bit maybe (we) saw where they were at in the standings and played to their level — and that’s unacceptable for our group.”

The Oil Kings’ Vojtech Port snap shot the puck through a crowd on the powerplay for his third goal of the season at 12:38 of the first period to open the scoring.

Cole Shepard of the Canes tied the game at one just 1:32 into the second period from Logan Wormald and Chase Pauls.

Tyson Zimmer roofed the puck in tight over the shoulder of Edmonton goalie Kolby Hay to give the Canes a 2-1 lead at 12:37 of the second period. Tristan Zandee drew the assist.

The Oil Kings didn’t go away quietly as they tied the game at two in the third period with Carson Golder notching his sixth goal of the season at 13:52 of the third period.

The Oil Kings Marshall Finnie scored with 18 seconds to go in the game to give Edmonton the lead.

Golder would score an empty netter for good measures with three seconds to go to give the Oil Kings the win.

The game marked the return of Canes goaltender Bryan Thomson after offseason hip surgery.

“It felt nice to get back in a game,” said Thomson.

“I was super excited, a little bit nervous, but overall it felt amazing to get back in the game. Obviously, very disappointed in myself with the outcome. I kind of feel like I let my team down.”

Thomson’s last game was on April 28 of last season when the Oil Kings swept the Canes in the playoffs before having surgery.

“It was tough obviously,” he said.

“ (I) go home, have two weeks to fit in my whole summer schedule. So two weeks of summer and then six months of recovery. So it’s tough, but I’m glad I did it and had to happen.”

Thomson plans to watch a lot of video on his start and fix his mistakes.

“And just be a little bit more engaged, I think,” said Thomson.

“I feel like I stopped the hard ones and let the easy ones in. So it’s pretty disappointing.”

The Canes record sits at 11-9-0-1 with the loss.

The team now embarks on a six-game road trip, beginning with four games in five nights this week in Manitoba that will start tonight against the Winnipeg Ice at 6:05 p.m.