The Lethbridge Hurricanes defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 in Western Hockey League play Friday night in front of 5,064 fans at accesso ShoWare Center.
Seattle (17-25-4-1) went in front 1-0 at 7:01 of the first period. Sean Richards forced a turnover along the right boards in the offensive zone. Richards passed the puck back to Henrik Rybinski. Rybinski found Noah Philp in the slot and he beat Lethbridge goalie Carl Tetachuk over the glove for his 18th goal of the season.
Lethbridge (25-13-4-4) tied the game 1-1 a 19:12 of the first on a power-play goal by Dylan Cozens. Jake Elmer and Igor Merezhko had the assists.
Jarret Tyszka put the T-Birds back in front at 8:55 of the second period on the power play. Philp crossed the puck from the right circle to Andrej Kukuca in the left circle. Kukuca centered the puck to Jarret Tyszka at center ice inside the blue line. Tyszka beat Tetachuk with a slap shot over the glove for his fifth goal of the season.
Lethbridge tied the game 2-2 at 14:24 of the second on a goal by Scott Mahovlich. Jackson Shepard had the only assist.
The line of Nolan Volcan, Matthew Wedman and Keltie Jeri-Leon had a hard working shift to put the T-Birds in front 3-2 at 15:58 of the second. Wedman won a puck battle along the left boards, and falling down, got the puck to Jeri-Leon at the hash mark. Jeri-Leon came off the wall but was tripped up and from his knees poked the puck to Volcan in the slot. Volcan ripped a hard wrist shot and beat Tetachuk over the glove.
Lethbridge outshot Seattle 17-16 in the second period and led 30-24 in shots after two periods.
Cozens tied the game 3-3 when he scored at 4:08 of the third period off assists from Calen Addison and Taylor Ross.
Lethbridge went in front 4-3 at 4:59 of the third on a goal from Jake Leschyshyn.
After a media timeout of the third, Tetachuk stopped Jeri-Leon in close and then Tyler Carpendale rang a wrist shot off the right post.
Seattle pulled goalie Roddy Ross with 1:31 left in the third for an extra attacker. The T-Birds pressed in the last minute of the game for the tying goal with Richards just missing and Tetachuk making several saves.
Ross finished with 35 saves on 39 shots, and his record is 4-1-0-1. Tetachuk had 26 saves on 29 shots, and his record is 11-5-0-0.
Up next
The T-Birds travel to Portland to play the Winterhawks at 6:05 p.m. Saturday (JOEtv Channel 22/Cable 110). Seattle hosts the Kamloops Blazers at 5:05 p.m. Sunday at the ShoWare Center.
Tickets are on sale online and at the ShoWare box office.
Fans who purchase the 24-Flex Ticket Package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2018-19 season.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Philp 18 (Richards, Rybinski), 7:01. 2, Lethbridge, Cozens 26 (Elmer, Merezhko) ,19:12 (pp). Penalties – Jeri-Leon, Sea (delay of game), 18:19.
Second period – 3, Seattle, Tyszka 5 (Kukuca, Philp), 8:55 (pp). 4, Lethbridge, Mahovlich 5 (Shepard), 14:24. 5, Seattle, Volcan 19 (Jeri-Leon, Wedman), 15:58. Penalties – Volcan, Sea (tripping), 4:09. Richards, Sea (high-sticking), 9:28.
Third period – 6, Lethbridge, Cozens 27 (Addison, Ross), 4:08. 7, Lethbridge, Leschyshyn 27 (Henry, Stringer), 4:59. Penalties – Wilson, Let (interference), 7:58. Richards, Sea (roughing), 10:44. Cox, Let (roughing), 10:44.
Shots on goal – Seattle 8-16-5 29, Lethbridge 13-17-9 39. Goalies – Seattle, Ross 39 shots-35 saves (4-1-0-1); Lethbridge, Tetachuk 29-26 (11-5-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-4; Lethbridge 1-2. A – 5,064. Referees – Duncan Brow, Fraser Lawrence. Linesmen – Michael Labbe, Michael McGowan.
