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Hurricanes take 2-0 series lead over Hitmen thanks to first playoff hat-trick for Leschyshyn in 4-1 Game 2 victory

Mar 23, 2019 | 11:16 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A night after they needed extra time, the Lethbridge Hurricanes left nothing to chance as a three-goal 1st period helped powered them past the Calgary Hitmen 4-1 in Game 2 of their opening round series.

Nick Henry got the crowd going early, just 25 seconds into the game when he went outside-inside past a Hitmen defenceman before beating Calgary goaltender Jack McNaughton on the backhand to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

The Hurricanes were outshooting the Hitmen early, but Calgary got an excellent opportunity to even the score just before the seven-minute mark of the 1st, but Lethbridge netminder Carl Tetachuk came up huge with a save on James Malm in alone after a turnover by Jackson Shepard.

Lethbridge finished 0-for-4 with the man advantage in Game 1, but it was a different story in Game 2.

With Dakota Krebs in the box for holding the Hurricanes powerplay went to work. Jake Leschyshyn tipped home a point shot by Calen Addison to make it 2-0 at 12:16.

In the final minute of the 1st period, it would be Leschyshyn again finding the back of the net.

He slammed home a rebound chance on the backhand to give the Hurricanes a 3-0 lead heading to the 1st intermission.

Neither team could find the back of the net in the 2nd period, but they could find each other’s faces with some punches as the rough stuff from Game 1 continued.

Koletrane Wilson and Ty Prefontaine got involved with Calgary captain Mark Kastelic who didn’t return to the game following the fracas.

A crucial moment in the game occurred in the 2nd as well, when Carl Tetachuk made a huge save getting his blocker and paddle down to keep the puck out off a rebound chance from point-blank near the end of the period.

At 8:57 of the 3rd period, Leschyshyn would cap off the hat trick with another powerplay goal, and another goal in close to the net.

The Hitmen would spoil Tetachuk’s shutout a few minutes later thanks to a Peyton Krebs going, and then near the end of the game, all hell broke loose.

A line brawl erupted, with gloves and sticks everywhere when the entire Hurricanes 4th line of Shepard, Cox and Mahovlich were involved in separate fights.

Cooler heads prevailed at the end, but tensions are high as the series now shifts to Calgary for Games 3 and 4.

Hurricanes Head Coach Brent Kisio liked his team’s start and thought they did a good job of staying disciplined while also playing physical.

“I thought [Henry’s goal] was huge. I thought it was a real big point for our team because it gave us a lot of momentum and got us playing the right way.”

Despite the 2-0 series lead, Kisio says it’s going to be tough heading into Calgary for the next two games.

“Calgary’s a good hockey club. I think you have two teams that are really battling and want to win, and you saw that at the end of the game tonight, no one is going to quit and it’s going to be a battle,” Kisio stated.

Fresh off his first career WHL playoff hat-trick, Leschyshyn explained that the big difference between Game 1 and Game 2 was keeping emotions in check.

“I think I felt more settled in for sure, and everyone else kind of felt that way too. I might have gotten too anxious at times last night and overthinking things. I think we just got back to basics tonight,” Leschyshyn said.

Looking ahead, Leschyshyn believes Game 3 is going to be a big one.

“We need to regroup and focus on the next game. It’s a pivotal game in the series, and we need to take advantage of it.”

Shots on goal finished at 33-32 in favour of Calgary.

The Hitmen had another tough night on the powerplay, finishing 0-for-7, while the Hurricanes went 2-for-4 with the man advantage.

Game 3 goes on Tuesday, Mar. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Scotiabank Saddledome.