By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Hurricanes explode for 10 goals in 10-4 victory over Victoria to snap losing streak

Nov 21, 2017 | 9:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The Lethbridge Hurricanes rode a blazing hot powerplay on Tuesday night (Nov. 21) on route to a 10-4 victory against the Victoria Royals that snapped their eight-game losing streak.

Things didn’t off great for the Canes, with defenceman Tate Olson taking a holding penalty in the first two minutes of the 1st period.

After that the Royals seized the momentum when Matthew Smith scored the game’s opening goal at 8:02 of the first period.

The lead wouldn’t last long, as Ryan Vandervlis answered just minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. Then at 15:41 of the 1st period Vandervlis struck again, this time on the powerplay to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead which they would take to the 2nd period.

It only took the Royals just over four minutes into the 2nd period to tie the game 2-2 on a Tyler Soy shorthanded goal.

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Just when it looked like Lethbridge might break down like they had at certain points during their losing streak, the Hurricanes instead dug in and answered in a big way.

Hurricanes captain Giorgio Estephan gave his team a 3-2 lead on the PP at 7:13 of the 2nd and the Canes rattled off four more goals before the end of the period, chasing Royals goaltender Griffen Outhouse.

The Canes took a 7-2 lead into the 3rd period.

The Royals cut the score to 7-3 early in the 3rd period, but the Hurricanes continued scoring at a torrid pace to put the game out of reach. Lethbridge added three more goals in the third, while Victoria added one, for a 10-4 final.

It was the big boys leading the way for the Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

Ryan Vandervlis had a hat trick plus an assist, Giorgio Estephan added two goals and two assists, Jordy Bellerive had a goal and two assists while defenceman Calen Addison had a goal and three assists.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner made 18 saves in the win, though backup goaltender Reece Klassen wound up finishing the game playing the last 9:16 of regulation.

A big reason for the win was the Hurricanes powerplay going 6-for-11 on the night, and the Canes dominated the Royals for most of the night, outshooting them 37-24.

Next up for the Hurricanes is a matchup against the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday night (Nov. 22).