Canes get a timely win

At an ideal time, the Lethbridge Hurricanes have snapped an losing skid. The Hurricanes edged the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-2 during Western Hockey League action Saturday night in Medicine Hat, the back half of a homeand-home series.

Wrapping up the teams’ regular season, the Hurricanes rallied for three unanswered goals to post the win that not only caps off their regular season at 33-33-6-0, but also ends an eight-game losing streak that dogged the Canes down the stretch drive.

Still, early indications Saturday night were the Central Division champion Tigers were poised to hand the Hurricanes their ninth straight loss and send them to the post season on lengthy losing streak.

Tyler Preziuso scored 25 seconds into the game and added a shorthanded goal 1:03 into the second for a 2-0 Medicine Hat lead.

But Zachary Cox netted his second of the season to pull Lethbridge within one a little over seven minutes later before captain Jordy Bellerive struck for his team-leading 46th goal of the season with 2:41 left in the second for a 2-2 tie after 40 minutes.

The Canes only needed 1:14 of the third to take the lead as Logan Barlage struck for what ultimately stood up as the game-winner.

Hurricanes goaltender Logan Flodell turned in a 33save performance to earn the win.

With home ice secured in the first round of playoffs Friday night after a Red Deer Rebels 6-2 loss to the Kootenay Ice, the Hurricanes open up Games 1 and 2 against the Rebels Friday and Saturday at the Enmax Centre. Game time is 7 p.m. both nights.

It’s the second straight year the Hurricanes and Rebels have met in the first round.

Last year, the Canes fell behind 3-1 in the series before rallying with three straight wins to take the series in seven games.

Tickets for the public will go on sale Monday at 9 a.m.