Hurricanes force Game 7 with convincing 5-1 win over Hitmen

The Hitmen prepare for the third period Saturday in Lethbridge, where the Hurricanes forced Game 7 with a 5-1 win. (Photo: X@WHLHitmen)

Facing the end of their season, the Lethbridge Hurricanes stood tall Saturday night, scoring four second period goals en route to a 5-1 win over the Calgary Hitmen in front of 4,805 fans at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

The gusher of goals in the middle frame enabled the Hurricanes to tie up their WHL instant classic with the Hitmen, forcing a deciding seventh game Wednesday night at the Saddledome.

After a scoreless first period, the Hurricanes converted a five-on-three power player in the second on a goal from Noah Chadwick, who converted a heroic setup from Logan Wormald, who made the blind backhand pass from his knees.

That play -- which tWHL social media posted on X as the league highlight of the night -- opened the floodgates, with the Hurricanes getting three more unanswered goals from Brayden Yager, another from Chadwick and Caden Price, sending them into the third with a 4-0 lead.

Calgary replaced goaltender Anders Miller with Eric Tu, and found themselves with three power plays, but couldn’t buy a goal until Brandon Gorzynski scored with a little under four minutes to play.

Brayden Edwards responded with a goal for the Hurricanes, sealing the deal and sending the series to a climactic seventh game.

The Hurricanes outshot the Hitmen 26-22.

Game time Wednesday is 7 p.m.