Sometimes in hockey it is difficult to read a head coach, especially when it comes to the vaunted goaltender position. Tonight was no exception as Brent Kisio made a goaltending change following the Lethbridge Hurricanes loss last night at home to the Red Deer Rebels.
Kisio decided to start Carl Tetachuk over the recently acquired Liam Hughes. By the time 60 minutes had expired on the game, it was clear the head coach had made the right decision.
“It was a really good hockey game. Both goalies were outstanding. Both goalies played really well.” Head coach Brent Sutter added following the game.
The two teams entered the contest separated by a singe point in the Central Division standings. Red Deer had 26 games remaining in their season while Lethbridge had 24.
And it was 80’s night at the Centrium although the game on the ice looked nothing like the style of play from an era long bygone.
Red Deer came out with a lot of pep in their step to start the game, putting a lot shots on the 2001-born Lethbridge backstop. Only one got by Tetachuk before 20 minutes had expired.
That goal came on the power play, Jeff de Wit collected his 24th goal of the season when he tipped a point shot off the stick of Alexander Alexeyev. The Rebels had done well cycling the puck around the Hurricanes end of the ice before Alexeyev’s shot slid along the ice towards Tetachuk.
The teams headed to the locker room with the score 1-0 for Red Deer, they also led the shots on goal by an 18-9 count.
Red Deer started the second period on the power play and the Hurricanes took a second penalty to give the Rebels a short 5-on-3 power play. Despite having a few solid chances they were unable to make any shots count.
It would come back to haunt them later in the period.
On the same shift later in the period, both Jeff de Wit and Alexander Alexeyev were hurt and needed to leave the ice, Alexeyev returned, de Wit did not. This upset the balance on the Rebels roster and it took some time for them to sort out the new line combinations.
There was no update on the condition of de Wit following the game.
Sutter did offer up this about his charges following the injury to de Wit,” Jeff is a big part of our team, of course when you lose a good player like that out of your lineup, you know him and Hags (Brandon Hagel) compliment each other so well. You gotta keep finding ways, keep pushing.”
It was Lethbridge though that found a way to push back against the Rebels.
Not long after the radio time out in the second period, the Hurricanes put a puck past Ethan Anders. The Pilot Butte, SK native had been rock solid though the first 30 minutes, but the Hurricanes leading goal scorer Jake Leschyshyn changed that.
Leschyshyn’s 26th goal of the season was set up by Nick Henry and Calen Addison.
Red Deer was not without their chances through 40 minutes, on more than one occasion they had beaten Tetachuk but the puck hit the post and stayed out.
Early in the third period the Rebels one again marched out of the gate with conviction. Three different times the Rebels had 2-on-1 rushes that they were unable to finish. They could not find a hole in Tetachuk, and the posts we no friends of theirs.
Again this time it was the Hurricanes who were able to find pay dirt.
A 2-on-1 for Lethbridge on a turnover led to their second goal of the night.
“We had lots of chances we didn’t capitalize on opportunities. Their second goal was a bad mistake by our forwards, in the neutral zone, turn the puck over, being too cute in the neutral zone. Cycling back, circling back instead of just playing straight lines. It’s 1-1 hockey, you gotta play it the right way.” Sutter explained the Hurricanes second goal from his point of view.
Logan Barlage and Jackson Shepard drove to the net with just a defender and Anders to beat. A perfectly placed pass led to a Shepard shot that sailed beyond Anders outstretched glove hand.
It was the first lead of the weekend for the Hurricanes and they would not relinquish it.
Despite the efforts of Red Deer’s top guns, and an extra attacker, Tetachuk turned away every scoring chance the Rebels had to throw at the Hurricane’s back stopper.
The final in the game went to Lethbridge by a score of 2-1. Red Deer outshot Lethbridge 36-31.
“It’s a tough game to lose, we gotta reset and get ready for tomorrow. i thought we played a really good game here tonight. I thought we had a lot of chances, we were pushing the pace. You don’t capitalize and the goalie on their team keeps them in and then one mistake, a couple mistakes cost you.” added Sutter.
Rebel Yell… The three stars were Carl Tetachuck (35 saves), Brandon Hagel and Oleg Zaytsev. Brett Davis hit the Hurricanes net 6 times while Nick Henry had 5 shots on the Rebels net. Reese Johnson was 23-of-27 in the faceoff dot to lead all players. He leads all players with more than 100 faceoffs taken with a win percentage of 64.9. Red Deer heads to Calgary to play the Hitmen tomorrow afternoon, puck drop goes at 4pm. Following the game around the WHL, the Hurricanes are now tied with the Tigers at 56 points, good for second in the central division. Red Deer has slipped to the first wild card spot but has games in hand on all the teams ahead of them.
