Lethbridge withstands third-period onslaught to defeat Hitmen in Game 7 thriller, 3-1

The Hurricanes advanced Wednesday, defeating Calgary 3-1 in Game 7 of their WHL playoff series. (Photo: X@WHLHurricanes)

The Lethbridge Hurricanes shut down the offence of the Calgary Hitmen Wednesday night and scored enough goals to advance, defeating Calgary 3-1 in the seventh game of a thrilling second-round WHL playoff series.

In front of a Saddledome crowd of 4,608, Lethbridge opened the scoring at 3:22 of the first period on a goal by Brayden Edwards.

After David Adaszynski tied it up for Calgary at 12:48, Logan Wormald put Lethbridge back in front 2-1 at 17:32 in the win-or-go-home game.

After a scoreless second period, Lethbridge got another goal from Luke Cozens at 3:33 of the third.

The Hitmen poured it on, firing 19 third-period shots on goal at Jackson Unger in the Hurricane net but Unger stopped them all, pushing the Hurricanes through to a third-round matchup with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

“Hey ‘Canes fans, see you in the third round baby!” a deliriously happy Cozens said in tandem with teammates after the game.

The shutdown win for the Hurricanes came after they were able to force a seventh game Saturday night, when they defeated the Hitmen 5-1 to interrupt what appeared to be a stunning comeback by Calgary.

The Hitmen rallied Friday night for a 6-5 win, their third in a row after dropping the first two games of the series to Lethbridge on their home ice in Calgary.

Wednesday, Calgary outshot the Hurricanes 35-25 but in the end it didn’t matter.

The Hurricanes open up the third round in Medicine Hat with Games 1 and 2 scheduled for Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now for Games 3 and 4 in Lethbridge next Tuesday and Wednesday night.