Oliver Okuliar scored two of the Hurricanes’ five goals, including the game winner on a short-handed breakaway. They all came before the mid way mark of the game to lead the Hurricanes past the Pats. The Pats chipped away but could not overcome the early deficit.
(Photo – Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Pats head coach Dave Struch was again happy with the game, so maintaining a positive attitude is key to keep the morale up, saying “it’s the broken record on being positive and maintaining the culture, the environment, the atmosphere. That’s all we can do right now because at some point it’s going to come for us.” He continued with “It’s hard for our players to to see the loss column, but for us as coaches we have to build off of the things we did well until we get one.”
One of the big positives to come out of the game was the success on the power play. They had gone five games in-a-row with out a goal. Tonight they were able to score three on eight chances.
The Pats opened the scoring early when Logan Nijhoff was able to get a sharp angle shot past Hurricanes starter Bryan Thomson.
The Hurricanes responded with four of the next five goals. Ty Prefontaine scored his first of the season when his point shot deflected off a Pats stick. Dylan Cozens continued his hot streak with his seventh of the season.
Austin Pratt was able to tie it back up for the Pats with a power-play goal.
Then it was three straight for Lethbridge with Oliver Okuliar scoring before and after a goal by Ty Nash. It was a lead they would not relinquish, despite the Pats best efforts.
The Pats did respond in the second period with power-play goals from Cole Dubinsky and Ty Kolle. They were unable to generate anything in the third period as Lethbridge hung on to win.
(Photo – Keith Hershmiller)
After the game Pats forward Cole Dubinsky, reiterated coach Dave Struch’s thoughts saying “we played another hard fought game. We’re just coming (up) a little short. We’re battling as a team and the wins are going to come.”
Dubinsky now has goals in back-to-back games, his new line with Garrett Wright and Sloan Stanick seems to have found some chemistry.
“Yeah we’re gelling good together. We’re all three pretty similar players and we kind of think the same on the ice. So it seems to be working pretty good,” said Dubinsky after the game.
Pats Stats
Hurricanes goalie Bryan Thomson made 22 saves on 26 shots.
Danton Belluk made all 11 saves in relief of Pats starter Matthew Kieper.
Lethbridge forward Dylan Cozens now has goals in all but one game this season.
The Pats did not give a power-play goal against for the second game in-a-row.
Logan Nijhoff was given a five minute major and a game misconduct after a knee-on-knee hit on the Hurricanes Zack Stringer. Zack was able to return to the game so supplemental discipline may not be on the horizon for Logan.
