Hurricanes 3 Rebels 2 (SO)
In hockey, the shootout is arguably the most exciting way to win a hockey game.
But sometimes it’s one of the more painful ways to lose.
On Friday night in Lethbridge, the Hurricanes got the upper hand on the Red Deer Rebels beating central Alberta’s team 3-2 in the shootout.
Despite the loss, Red Deer secured a single point to remain in second place in the WHL’s eastern conference.
To begin the game defenceman Matz Lindgren scored his second of the year just minutes into the first period after he found the loose puck in front of the net off a Jace Isley shot.
Late in the opening frame, the Hurricanes answered on the powerplay when forward Tyson Zimmer fired in a loose puck.
Lethbridge would later take the lead midway through the second period by forward Logan Wormald. He was sprung on the breakaway after he left the penalty box and beat goaltender Kyle Kelsey through the five-hole.
In the final period, captain Jayden Grubbe scored his sixth of the season a minute and eight seconds into the frame. This marked his second goal in back-to-back games after he beat the goaltender through the five-hole on a wrap-around attempt.
Sixty minutes wasn’t enough to get the job done and in overtime, the two teams shared scoring chances. Grubbe just missed a tip into the open net and Kelsey made a fantastic glove save on a Zimmer breakaway chance.
In the shootout Rebels forward Kai Uchacz was stopped on a glove-side wrist shot before Hurricanes defenceman Noah Chadwick beat Kelsey. Rebels Talon Brigley and Hurricanes Tyson Zimmer were both stopped on their opportunities. Rebels forward Jace Isley needed to score to extend the shootout but could not do so.
Red Deer went one for four on the powerplay and were solid on the penalty kill and held Lethbridge to just one powerplay goal on six opportunities. Goaltender Kyle Kelsey was busy all night and stopped 33 shots in the effort.
The Rebels are back in action Saturday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium against the Brandon Wheat Kings for their first home in over three weeks.