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Taylor Ross’ overtime magic forces Game 7 on Tuesday night between Hurricanes and Hitmen

Mar 31, 2019 | 7:35 PM

CALGARY, AB – Do you believe in magic?

The Lethbridge Hurricanes sure do, after scoring in the final minute of regulation to tie Game 6 on Sunday, Mar. 31, before Taylor Ross sealed the comeback in overtime to even their first-round series against the Calgary Hitmen up at three games apiece thanks to a 7-6 win.

The Hitmen opened up a 1-0 lead just 1:03 into the 1st period. Calgary forced a turnover as the Hurricanes tried to clear out of their zone, and Kaden Elder picked up the rebound in front and beat Carl Tetachuk.

At 2:08, Lethbridge would answer. Zach Cox found a loose puck in the crease with Hitmen goaltender Jack McNaughton sprawling on the ice and made no mistake evening the score at 1-1.

This game was wild, even more so than Game 5, and the Hurricanes were able to grab the lead just a  minute late when Dylan Cozens alone in front outwaited McNaughton and made it 2-1.

Then Elder would get the gate for tripping, and the Lethbridge powerplay would go to work.

Jake Leschyshyn won a battle in the corner, and while falling, managed to center the puck to Hurricanes captain Jordy Bellerive who blasted a one-timer home and give his team a 3-1 lead at 6:32.

The Hitmen would cut the lead to 3-2 on the power play as Cael Zimmerman finished off a great give and go play with Taylor Ross in the box for high sticking.

That’s where things stood after one period of play, with Lethbridge also holding the shots on goal lead at 13-12

Calgary pulled even 5:42 into the 2nd on a goal from Devan Klassen after a great pass by Dakota Krebs from his point position made it 3-3.

Klassen’s goal would be the only one in the middle frame, but a scary moment later in the 2nd as Calen Addison collided with Carson Focht at the blueline led to Addison heading down the tunnel.

Thankfully for Lethbridge, he returned after missing just a couple of shifts.

In the 3rd period, momentum continued swinging back and forth. First, the Hurricanes scored on the power play at 2:57 when Nick Henry converted a rebound in front to give Lethbridge back the lead at 4-3.

The Hitmen evened things up 4-4 off a wild scramble when Ryder Korzak made no mistake on a one-timer of his own from the right circle at 11:12.

Lethbridge went back to the powerplay shortly after the goal, and just 35 seconds later, they retook the lead when Jake Leschyshyn continued his dominant first round by scoring his sixth goal of the playoffs.

At 13:05 the wild run of goals continued. James Malm jumped around Koletrane Wilson and ripped a wicked shot past Tetachuk to even things up again, 5-5.

With under three minutes to play, Hitmen captain Mark Kastelic continued to have a significant impact in his return from injury when he got not one, not two but three chances in front and eventually roofed the puck over Tetachuk to give Calgary a late 6-5 lead.

But unlike the night previous, the Hurricanes wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Tetachuk headed to the bench for the extra attacker with less than a minute remaining in the Hurricanes season, and at 19:27 it would be Calen Addison playing the hero by ripping a wrist shot by McNaughton and sending the game to overtime.

In the extra frame, it didn’t take Lethbridge long to send the series back to the bridge city.

Taylor Ross got onto the ice with Scott Mahovlich and Logan Barlage off a partial line change, grabbed a loose puck in front, and wrapped it around the other side which snuck underneath McNaughton and delivered the Hurricanes a 7-6 victory.

Final shots in Game 6 finished at 41-33, while the Hurricanes dominated on the man advantage going 3-for-4. The Hitmen finished 1-for-4 on the powerplay.

Game 7 for all the marbles goes on Tuesday, Apr. 2, back at Nicholas Sheran Arena beginning at 7 p.m.

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