CaneswininOTfor3-0lead
Addison the hero with power-play winner
The Lethbridge Hurricanes have the Red Deer Rebels on the ropes. Hurricanes defenceman Calen Addison scored 38 seconds into overtime as the Canes edged the Rebels 5-4 in Game 3 of the teams’ best-of-seven opening-round Western Hockey League playoff series Tuesday night at the Enmax Centrium .
The goal, the Hurricanes third power-play marker of the night, gives the Hurricanes a 3-0 stranglehold on the series as Lethbridge goes for the sweep in Game 4 tonight.
Still, the Hurricanes had to contend with a Rebels team that didn’t go away as Red Deer scored twice in the final 6:22 — including the game-tying goal on the power play with 47 seconds to go — to force overtime.
But for the ninth time in 13 chances this series, Lethbridge’s power play struck early in the extra session, going 3-for-5 on the night.
“It’s a surreal feeling for me and our group,” said Addison. “Three and 0 is a lot different than 2-1 when you look at it. We have to enjoy it and reset for tomorrow.”
The Rebels thought they had a 1-0 lead 30 seconds into the game when Mason McCarty scored, but after a brief review, the goal was waved off due to goaltender interference.
The Hurricanes went to the power play a minute later quickly turned that into a 1-0 lead as Taylor Ross scored 1:35 into the game.
Lethbridge went to the power play with 2:21 left in the first when River Fahey was whistled for kneeing, but Red Deer pulled even with a shorthanded marker as Brandon Hagel got around Addison and beat Logan Flodell blocker side at 18:14 to tie it at 1-1 after the first.
The Hurricanes regained the lead 6:48 into the second period on a goal from Zach Cox, but Red Deer pulled even when Kristian Reichel beat Flodell with 6:08 left in the second.
The Canes power play went to work a second time with 18 seconds left in the second when Brad Morrison scored his fourth of the post season and 10th point in three games for a 3-2 lead.
Canes captain Jordy Bellerive put Lethbridge up 4-2 with 7:31 remaining, but the Rebels cut the lead to one 1:09 later on a goal from Rebels captain Grayson Pawlenchuk.
The Rebels pulled Lamb with a little under two minutes to go and thought they scored the game-tying goal when a puck bounced over Flodell and skidded toward the goal line before the goaltender swatted it away. After a review, the goal was waved off, but Jadon Joseph was given a penalty for delay of game.
The next Red Deer goal counted as Reichel netted the game-tying goal with 46 seconds to go.
But when Hagel was whistled for goalie interference at the end of regulation, the Hurricanes worked quickly with the man advantage in overtime.
“Belly (Bellerive) gave it up to me on the point,” said Addison. “I went over to Mo (Morrison) and kind of sucked the guy in and gave it up top and I shot it. Luckily, it went in. I don’t really remember after that, to be honest. It’s just a crazy feeling.”
The Hurricanes have scored three power play goals in each game.
“It definitely comes down to specialty teams again,” said Rebels head coach Brent Sutter. “They get three power-play goals, so obviously our penalty killing isn’t doing the job for us.
“It’s been the difference in the series. They’ve gotten some tough goals on us that you don’t want to see happen at this time of year. It’s disappointing to get to this point, but going into overtime shorthanded and with the way their power play is working, your penalty kill has to be razor sharp. We’re not getting blocked shots on it, either. We’re not getting the job done on specialty teams, bottom line.”
The win puts the Canes in line for the sweep tonight.
“It’s not over,” said Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio. “We know Red Deer teams fight hard. We have a good lead and we have ourselves in a good spot, but there’s one to go and we have to find a way to get it done.”