Canes drop first game of four-game road trip

The Lethbridge Hurricanes started their preChristmas four-game road swing on a losing note.

The Hurricanes were defeated 5-3 by the Saskatoon Blades in Western Hockey League play Tuesday night in Saskatoon.

In what looked like a long night for the visitors early, the Canes attempted to rally from a 3-0 deficit in the first period and made it 4-3 late in the third, but the Blades added an insurance marker on Cameron Hebig’s second goal of the night to salt the win.

With the loss, the Hurricanes are 1414-2-0. The team continues its road swing tonight in Prince Albert.

The Blades struck early and often Tuesday. Bradly Goethals gave Saskatoon a 1-0 lead 4:39 into the game and the Blades went up two four minutes later on the power play on a goal from Hebig.

Josh Paterson scored to make it 3-0 after the first.

The Canes hit the scoresheet 2:52 into the second on Dylan Cozens’ ninth of the season, but the Blades restored their three-goal lead on a goal from Kirby Dach at 9:35 of the second. Lethbridge cut the lead when Calen Addison scored his seventh of the season with 6:57 left in the second and it was 4-2 into the second intermission. Jake Elmer scored 3:57 into the third, but Hebig added his second of the game and 26th of the season with 4:35 remaining to round out the scoring.

Hurricanes goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped 36 of 41 shots in the loss, while Lethbridge was 0-for-4 on the power play.

The Blades were 2-for-6 on the man advantage. Hebig had a four-point night and Dach also had a four-point game with one goal and three assists.

Elmer and Cozens each added an assist for a two points each.

Addison’s goal was his 34th point this season, surpassing his career-best of 33 last season. He’s also two goals shy of his career-high nine goals last year.

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