Cranbrook, BC – The Kootenay ICE scored 4 goals in the 1st period and 3 in the 2nd period in a 7-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes in WHL action on Saturday night.
The ICE scored 4 goals in 3:44 (Franchise Record is 3:23) midway through the 1st period.
On the powerplay the opened the scoring as James Martin scored with a slap shot from the blueline that beat the goalie on the stickside.
Lethbridge misplayed the puck in their zone and Cody Eakin picked it up in the middle slot and backhanded a shot over the glove hand.
18 seconds later Joe Antill sent a long shot that hit the goalies’ shoulder and landed behind him near the goal line. Antilla crashed the net to put the puck into the net. The officials ruled no goal as the net was knocked off but video overturned the call and it was ruled a goal.
Matt Fraser raced back to stop a potential breakaway and then turned it to Max Reinhart who fed Cody Eakin on a 2-on-1 break and Eakin scored his 2nd of the period with a wrist shot high on the stick side.
Lethbridge changed goalies as Brandon Anderson replaced Dylan Tait.
Hurricanes scored late in the period as Austin Fyten fed Brody Sutter with a pass in the crease and redirected it for the goal.
In the 2nd period ICE made the score 5-1 as Kevin King was near the net and banged in a rebound off a Joe Antilla shot.
On the powerplay the puck was near the crease and Matt Fraser scored with a shot that went off a Hurricane into the net.
ICE made it 7-1 and Brendan Hurley almost had a breakway but the goalie came out for a poke check and puck hit Hurley in the chest and went directly into the net.
Eakin extended his point streak to 7 games (6-9-15).
Hayden Rintoul has a 4 game point streak (1-3-4).
Max Reinhart (2-3-5) and Matt Fraser (3-1-4) have 3 game point streaks.
ICE will host Moose Jaw Friday in game 1 of their 1st round playoff series.
ICE Scratches – Luke Paulsen (12th game shoulder 3 weeks), Adam Rossignol, Mackenzie Skapski (3rd goalie).
Game Summary
Lethbridge 23-36-5-8 Kootenay 46-21-1-4
1st Period
1. Kootenay, Martin 11 (Rintoul, Pearce) 6:28 pp
2. Kootenay, Eakin 35 7:29
3. Kootenay, Antilla 21
4. Kootenay, Eakin (2) 36 (Reinhart, Fraser) 10:12
5. Lethbridge, Sutter 18 (Fyten, Braes) 15:50
Penalties – Leach Ktn (cross checking) 1:40, Rintoul Ktn (delay of game) 2:34, Tarnasky Lth (cross checking, fighting, misconduct) Hurley Ktn (fighting) 5:09.
2nd Period
6. Kootenay, King 33 (Antilla, McNabb) 4:46
7. Kootenay, Fraser 36 (Ismond, Eakin) 9:38 pp
8. Kootenay, Hurley 5 10:47
Penalties – Rintoul Ktn (high sticking) 6:19, Anderson Leth (roughing) 8:47.
3rd Period
No Scoring.
Penalties – Hulit Leth (holding) 7:50, Ross Leth Dirk Ktn (roughing) 10:44, Machacek Leth (roughng, fighting) Ismond Ktn (fighting) 16:15, Maxwell Leth Leach Ktn (fighting) 19:01.
Shots on goal by
Lethbridge - 6 - 8 - 8 = 22
Kootenay - 10 – 17 – 11 = 38
Goal (shots-saves) – Lethbridge: Dylan Tait (L 6-10-0-1) (8-4) Brandon Anderson (10:12 first) (30-27) Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (W 33-16-1-3) (22-21)
Power plays (goals-chances) - Lethbridge: 0/4 Kootenay: 2/3
Referees – Brett Iverson, Sean Raphael
Linesmen – Jim Maniago, Clayton Richardson
Attendance – 2,995