HURRICANES HOST BRANDON IN GAME ONE
Power play goes 4-for-6 as Hurricanes defeat Wheat Kings 5-1 in Game 1
Sharp special teams have given the Lethbridge Hurricanes the early lead in the Western Hockey League Eastern Conference semifinal.
The Hurricanes defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings 5-1 during Game 1 of the teams’ second round series Friday night at the Enmax Centre.
The Hurricanes got rolling with a shorthanded goal and then buried four man advantage goals as Lethbridge went 4-for-6 on the power play. Hurricanes captain Jordy Bellerive and Taylor Ross each scored twice while Jadon Joseph added the other goal.
“I thought we got better and better as the game went along,” said Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio. “I thought we were OK in the first and OK in the second period and in the third period we were really strong.”
The Wheat Kings were given the first power play of the series when Hurricanes forward Zachary Cox was called for slashing, but the Canes replied shorthanded as Joseph sent a saucer pass to Ross, who beat Wheat Kings goaltender Dylan Myskiw 6:23 into the game.
Special teams went back to work for the Canes midway through the first when Bellerive was able to put a rebound past Myskiw with Brandon’s Caiden Daley off for high sticking.
The Wheat Kings pulled within one 6:31 into the second on Marcus Sekundiak’s third of the post season to make it 2-1.
Then Canes power play filled out the rest of the scoresheet.
Joseph put a rebound off a shot from Logan Barlage past Myskiw to the right of the Brandon goal for a 3-1 lead with 6:45 left in the second.
Lethbridge’s power play completed the hat trick 6:20 into the third and Ross struck for his second of the game for a 4-1 lead.
Then with six minutes to go Bellerive potted his second of the game and sixth of the post season to round out the scoring.
“Getting the shorthanded goal in the first was a really big spark,” said Kisio. “But I thought our special teams did a great job tonight.”
As Game 2 returns to the Enmax Centre tonight at 7 p.m., Wheat Kings head coach David Anning said staying out of the penalty box will be key as his team looks for the split.
“Obviously we need to cut down on our penalties,” Anning said. “We have to do a better job with our checking and our sticks and our penalty kill is going to have to step up. Special teams played a big factor in the outcome of the hockey game.”
But the Wheat Kings coach liked what he saw from his team’s five-on-five play.
“We did some things, especially in the second period, where we got going a little bit and had some momentum and zone time. I think we have to keep building off that.”
In the Canes crease, Logan Flodell turned in a 25-save performance.
“He’s been outstanding,” said Kisio. “They could have had a couple of goals in that first period, for sure, but Flo has been like that since he came here. He’s an outstanding goalie that we know we can rely on. Some nights he has to make better saves than we want, but he’s there for us.”
Ross’ goals were his sixth and seventh of the post season, while Brad Morrison chipped in with three helpers to up his playoff points total to 19.
“Ever since he’s come in he’s gotten better and better,” said Kisio of Ross.
“In the regular season he played great, but he’s found another level and that’s what you need to have success in the playoffs. You need guys to step up and exceed what they did in the regular season and right now we have a lot of guys doing that.”
The Hurricanes now attempt to take a 2-0 series lead to Brandon for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I was really proud of how we reset in round one,” said Kisio.
“We just referenced that. Tomorrow is an important game. They’re going to be playing harder and we have to be ready to go.”