The Lethbridge Hurricanes could not complete the sweep on Wednesday night as they lost 5-2 in Red Deer to force a fifth game in their best-of-seven first round playoff series against the Rebels.
The Rebels were the better team Wednesday night, generating more high-quality scoring chances and outshooting the Hurricanes 36-30. ‘Canes Head Coach Brent Kisio believes his team didn’t play hard enough.
“Red Deer was ready to play and compete and battle and we didn’t show up,” Kisio said.
When asked if he felt the ‘Canes effort was close to what they put forth in game three, Kisio simply said,
“No. Our effort was terrible tonight.”
Coach Kisio said it best, the ‘Canes just didn’t play well Wednesday, but they did take their first lead of the game late in the second period when Tate Olson converted a Brad Morrison feed to make it 2-1.
The high was short-lived though, just 58 seconds later Rebels forward Mason McCarty snuck into the slot and snapped a shot past Hurricanes goaltender Logan Flodell to even the game at 2-2.
Red Deer continued their attack in the first minute of the third period when Rebels forward Brandon Hagel pounced on a loose puck to give Red Deer a 3-2 lead.
Despite the momentum shifting in Red Deer’s favour, the ‘Canes were still within a goal midway through the third period. Then, in what turned out to be the game’s most pivotal moment, Hurricanes Defenceman Calen Addison pinched in, but was turned away by Rebels goalie Ethan Anders. After the save the Rebels broke back the other way and Red Deer defenceman Alexander Alexeyev scored to make it 4-2 Rebels.
“We didn’t handle that (sequence) the right way,” Kisio said. “Addi (Addison) was coming in as the defenceman and we should have had a change and we had a guy on the ice that should have changed and we got caught.”
Fortunately for the Hurricanes, they still have a 3-1 series lead. The Rebels landed a blow, but it was far from fatal.
“We just got to start playing like we did the first three games,” Kisio said. “We’ll get reset, we’ll get at it and we’ll be ready for Saturday’s game, but obviously It wasn’t good enough tonight.”
In addition to Olson’s tally, Defenceman Matthew Stanley also found the scoresheet for the Hurricanes in game four, while Red Deer received goals from McCarty, Hagel, Alexeyev, Reese Johnson and Kristian Reichel.
Lethbridge goalie Logan Flodell stopped 31 of the 35 shots he faced.
The series now shifts back to the Enmax Centre for game 5 on Saturday.