Photo by Brandi Pollock
Lethbridge, AB (CKLQ) – The Lethbridge Hurricanes punched their ticket to the WHL’s Eastern Conference Final with a 3-0 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday night.
The Hurricanes had a flurry of chances in the first period and opened the scoring on a short-handed breakaway. New York Ranger prospect Brad Morrison snapped home his 11th of the post-season to send the sellout crowd at the Enmax Centre into a frenzy.
The goal from Morrison came just moments after Taylor Ross was awarded a penalty shot. Dylan Myskiw read it perfectly and turned it aside with the blocker.
In the 2nd the Hurricanes added to their lead on the powerplay as Logan Barlage found a loose puck and buried it past Dylan Myskiw.
The Wheat Kings tried desperately to get back into the hockey game but couldn’t beat Logan Flodell. The overage goalie made 32 saves for his first shutout of the 2018 WHL Playoffs.
Brad Morrison would seal the game with an empty netter late in the third period, sending the Hurricanes to the conference final vs the winner of the Swift Current / Moose Jaw Series.
Dylan Myskiw made 27 saves in the losing effort and finishes the post-season with a 5-4 record and a 3.51 goals against average.
A full season recap with quotes from Head Coach David Anning and GM Grant Armstrong will follow in the coming days.
CROWE’S NOTES
-The Wheat Kings scratched Logan Thompson (Lower Body), Ty Ettinger (Healthy), Jonny Hooker (Healthy) & Baron Thompson (Healthy).
-In a classy move, the Hurricanes named all three overage Wheat Kings as the game’s Three Stars. Evan Weinger, Logan Thompson and James Shearer each were saluted by the crowd following the game.
-Attendance at the Enmax Centre was 5,249
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
LETH – Brad Morrison (11) (Bellerive, Prefontaine) 10:09 SHG
Shots: 11-11
2nd PERIOD
LETH – Logan Barlage (4) (Olsen, Elmer) 10:53 PPG
Shots: 12-10 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
LETH – Brad Morrison (12) (Unassisted) 19:54 EN
Final Shots: 32-30 Brandon
