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Hurricanes rout Tigers 8-3 with six goal third period

Oct 20, 2018 | 11:26 PM

LETHBRIDGE – With 40 minutes played Saturday night, Oct. 20 at home to the Medicine Hat Tigers, things were not looking good for the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Not good at all.

After giving up a 2-0 lead built in the first period with goals from Ty Kolle and Nolan Jones, the Hurricanes fell behind 3-2 with 27 seconds left in the second. This came just one day after Lethbridge let a 3-1 lead slip away in Medicine Hat with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, before losing to those very same Tigers in overtime. Adding to that Saturday, the Hurricanes were also getting outshot 30-20 through two periods. Again, not looking good.

But then the third started.

Dylan Cozens evened the score 3-3 one minute in, which opened the flood gates. Over the next 8:36, Zachary Cox, Jadon Joseph, Logan Barlage, and Jordy Bellerive would also find the back of the net for the Hurricanes. Taylor Ross would add the sixth Lethbridge goal of the period with four minutes left in the game to cap an impressive 8-3 win.

The offensive explosion helped to extend a four-game point streak for the Hurricanes that started last Saturday with a shootout loss to Prince George. It’s could very well be an important step in improving upon what has been a decidedly mediocre record to start the 2018-19 campaign, as the Hurricanes are 5-4-1-2 just 12 games in.

While it is still relatively early in the season, an important takeaway from Saturday’s win – one that should give ‘Canes fans significant reason for optimism – is the remarkably balanced attack. They got eight goals from eight different players and 14 of them recorded at least one point along the way. Consider that they are currently the second highest scoring team in the league – their 52 goals trail only Prince Albert’s 65 – despite not having anyone in the top five in the WHL for goals or points. Also, only four times this season have they scored fewer than four goals in a game.

Now of course, we do need to acknowledge that the Hurricanes have surrendered the fourth most goals in the league this season, and are just two behind Calgary’s WHL worst 53 goals against. But that can be addressed. Finding this level firepower and balanced attack is much harder to do.

The ‘Canes will be back in action Tuesday, Oct. 23, as they host the Brandon Wheat Kings at the ENMAX Centre.