Hurricanes defeat Hitmen 5-4 (Photo courtesy Lethbridge Hurricanes on Twitter @WHLHurricanes)

By Justin Goulet

Hurricanes earn overtime win against Calgary

Dec 27, 2019 | 9:45 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – With stars Dylan Cozens and Calen Addison representing Canada at the IIHF World Juniors and fresh off a holiday break, the Hurricanes welcomed the Calgary Hitmen to Lethbridge on Friday night.

FIRST PERIOD

Calgary’s Dakota Krebs was called for boarding early into the game, at 1:58. Koletrane Wilson took advantage of the Lethbridge power-play at 3:47, sneaking one past Hitmen goalie Jack McNaughton to put the ‘Canes up 1-0.

D-Jay Jerome and Danila Palivko assisted on what was Wilson’s fourth goal of the season. Calgary’s James Malm responded quickly, tying the game at the 4:31 mark.

The first period was relatively tame on the penalty calls. Before another was dished out, Lethbridge’s Dino Kambeitz scored his 11^th of the year on assists by Alex Thacker and Chase Wheatcroft at 12:04.

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Minutes later, Calgary’s Riley Stotts was called for high sticking at 15:07. Lethbridge then scored its second power-play goal of the period. Alex Cotton notched his 11^th of the season at 15:33 to make it 3-1 for the Hurricanes going into the second frame.

Before the buzzer sounded, Orca Wiesblatt was called for roughing at 19:27.

SECOND PERIOD

Lethbridge couldn’t score on the power-play to start the second.

Wiesblatt then made up for his roughing call 4:30 minutes into the period, scoring his first of the season to cut Lethbridge’s lead to one.

The score was at 3-2 for the Hurricanes with plenty of time to play. That led wouldn’t hold for long. Koletrane Wilson was called for hooking at 9:05, putting Calgary on the power-play.

The Hitmen took advantage at 10:50, with a goal from Jett Woo to tie the game 3-3. Woo’s fifth of the year was assisted by Josh Prokop and Riley Stotts.

Alex Cotton was called for slashing at 13:04, putting the Hitmen on the power-play. That was followed by a roughing penalty on Mark Kastelic (Calgary) at 15:04 and slashing on Lethbridge’s Trevor Thurston at the same time.

Seconds later, Calgary’s Riley Stotts was called for unsportsmanlike conduct at the 15:50 mark. The penalties were killed with no goals scored before the buzzer sounded. At the end of two, Calgary had made it 3-3.

THIRD PERIOD

3:05 into the final frame, Lethbridge’s Alex Cotton was called for tripping, putting Calgary on the power-play. After a successful penalty kill, Lethbridge didn’t have much time to celebrate.

At the 10:01 mark, Calgary’s Riley Stotts scored his 16^th of the season. Originally thought to have been scored by Mark Kastelic, the goal was reviewed and awarded to his teammate Stotts. The Hitmen were able to take the 4-3 lead.

Lethbridge’s Dino Kambeitz was then called for roughing at 10:01, putting Calgary on another power-play. However, Calgary was unable to capitalize

Blake Allan of the Hitmen was called for holding at 12:42, giving Lethbridge a much-needed power-play opportunity. They were unable to score, but a goal would come sooner than later.

Calgary’s Jackson van de Leest was called for cross checking at 15:44 and Lethbridge’s Justin Hall scored on the power-play at 16:01, his seventh of the season was assisted by Logan Barlage and Alex Thacker.

The game was tied at 4-4 with minutes to go in the final period, and that’s how the score would look when the buzzer sounded – sending the game to overtime.

OVERTIME

Into the extra period, Dino Kambeitz scored the game-winner…or so it was thought. His score had to be reviewed. Following a review by officials, the goal was good – resulting in a 5-4 win for the Hurricanes!

Kambeitz’s goal at the 3:00 mark was his 12^th of the season and was assisted by Ty Prefontaine.

Lethbridge stays at home on Saturday night, Dec. 28. They’ll host the Swift Current Broncos while the Calgary Hitmen travel to Medicine Hat to face the Tigers.