Hurricanes Edge Bruins in Shootout

January 29, 2008

Bruins goaltender Matt Esposito earned first star honors and set a team record with 49 saves through regulation and overtime but it was the Lethbridge Hurricanes earning the two points, outlasting the Bruins 3-2 in a shootout. The Bruins do earn one point giving them 49 on the season. Chilliwack remains in eighth place in the Western Conference, two points back of the seventh place Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers have played three more games than the Bruins.

Ryan Howse opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period, his fourth of the season

at the 7:07 mark on the power play. Chilliwack outshot Lethbridge 9-6 in the period.

In the second period, David Robinson's fourth goal of the season gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead at 1:28 but the lead was short lived as just 55 seconds later Mitch Fadden notched his 25th of the season to bring the 'Canes to within one. Colton Sceviour tied the game finishing off a nifty three way passing play on the power play at the 7:30 mark. Lethbridge outshot Chilliwack 24-6 in the middle frame.

The third period was scoreless as was overtime.

In the shootout, Hurricanes forward Zach Boychuk was the first shooter and the only Lethbridge shooter who did not find the back of the Bruins net in the shootout. After Mark Santorelli hit the post behind Hurricanes' goaltender Juha Metsola, Dwight King beat Esposito when a failed deke dribbled across the goal line. After a Mark Santorelli missed attempt, it was Mitch Fadden who notched the winner.

The Bruins were outshot 51-24 in the game. Chilliwack was 1/7 with the man advantage, the Hurricanes went 1/8.

The Bruins next action is Friday night when they host the Vancouver Giants.

Tickets for all Bruins home games can be purchased through the ticketmaster website, by phone ( 1-800-663-9311) or in person at any ticketmaster location.

A reminder that season tickets for the 2008-09 season are now on sale.

Ice Chips: Not in the lineup for the Bruins were Matt Meropoulis (hand), Cody Smuk (shoulder), Jadon Potter (flu), Evan Pighin (flu) and Mike Proudley (flu)... Partik Bhungal saw his first action since suffering an ankle injury December 14th...Kevin Sundher played his fourth game of the season for the Bruins. Sundher was the Bruins first selection in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft...the 51 shots against set a new team record for the Bruins who had twice before allowed 47 shots in a game...the 24 shots allowed in the second period were also a team record, breaking the mark of 22 set twice previously...Matt Esposito set team records for saves in a period (22 in the second period) and saves in a game with 49. The previous record was 43 held jointly by Esposito and Alex Archibald.