CANES-REBELS GAME 5

TEAMS TANGLE TONIGHT AT 7 P.M. AT ENMAX CENTRE

Hurricanes looking to lock up first-round WHL playoff series

The Lethbridge Hurricanes look to get second-round bound tonight. After missing the chance to hand the Red Deer Rebels the sweep during Game 4 of the teams’ opening-round Western Hockey League series Wednesday night in Red Deer, the Hurricanes will take another shot at closing out the series when Game 5 hits the ice tonight at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre.

The Rebels forced the fifth game thanks to a 5-2 win Wednesday night when Red Deer’s Brandon Hagel scored on the power play 38 seconds into the third to snap a 2-2 tie en route to the win.

The Hurricanes enjoyed two decisive wins on home ice in Games 1 and 2 with 6-0 and 8-3 wins to grab a 2-0 lead in the series and grabbed a stranglehold on the series with a 5-4 overtime win in Game 3 as defenceman Calen Addison scored in the opening minute of the extra session.

However, the Rebels refused to go quietly in Game 4, scoring four unanswered goals to erase a 2-1 Hurricanes lead to bring the series back to Lethbridge tonight.

Wednesday night was the first game of the series where the Hurricanes power play was held off the scoresheet. In the first three games, the Canes man advantage units went nine-for-13.

Hurricanes forward Brad Morrison put up eight points in the first two games of the series and leads the Hurricanes with four goals and 12 points in the first four games.

Captain Jordy Bellerive had three goals and eight points and Taylor Ross has put up three goals and seven points.

Hagel’s game-winner in Game 4 was his fourth goal of the season, while Kristian Reichel’s empty-netter was his third this series.

Reichel leads Red Deer with five points, four of those coming in Games 3 and 4.

Hagel, Reese Johnson and Mason McCarty each have four points for the Rebels.

Since returning to the Rebels for Game 3, defenceman Alexander Alexeyev has a goal and two assists.