A tough loss for the Lethbridge Hurricanes last night again the rival Medicine Hat Tigers.à
The game was delayed about 40 minutes as the Hurricanes/Broncos Alumni Committee inducted former coach John Chapman and the 6 Sutter brothers who played their junior hockey with the Broncos into the organization's Hall of Fame. It was a great ceremony that had a high quality video presentation showing a little bit about all 7 inductees. They were brought onto the Enmax Centre ice in convertables, and after the speeches were read, the game got underway. Only 3 of the Sutters were able to make it, Rich, Ron, and Duane, but the other 3 were represented by their older brother Gary, the eldest of the Sutter brothers. A tip of the Hat to all those involved!! A classy move by the Alumni committee headed up by Dick Gibson.
Once the game got going, the Tigers would open the scoring and the Hurricanes would tie the game shortly after to even things at one after 20 minutes. Lethbridge played a strong first period out shooting the Tigers 13-6. In the 2nd though, Medicine Hat would make some between period adjustments. The Tigers scored 3 times on 9 shots to take a 4-1 lead, Luca Sbisa added a late goal to cut the Tigers lead to 4-2 after 2. In the 3rd, the Hat would go up 5-2 and eventually go on to win it 6-3 with an empty netter. Dwight King and Carter Aston would notch the other Hurricanes goals. Lethbridge went 3 for 7 on the power play.
Lethbridge lost intensity after the first. It was the Tigers that came out more determined in the last 40 minutes. The Hurricanes will need a full effort and a more energized game tonight in the rematch in Medicine Hat. The loss drops the Hurricanes 6 points back of the Tigers in the standings with 11 games to go. If the Canes still want a shot at 4th place, tonight is a must win in regulation. Lethbridge can not afford to be 8 points back of the Tigers. That would make 4th place much tougher. If the Hurricanes though can pull this one out tonight in the Hat, this mini-weekend series would pretty much cancel itself out and the spread would once again be 4 points. Talking with Assistant Coach Matt Kabayama in the CJOC post game show last night, he alluded to the fact the team lost the intensity and focus in those final two periods. No doubt the point are important, but as I have said before, getting better and playing consistent hockey in the final weeks of season is equally key heading into the playoffs.
Tonight will mark the first of 5 straight road games for the Canes. After this game, it is off to Saskatchewan and Manitoba for 4 games next week. The Hurricanes next home game is March 4th vs. Red Deer.
Game time tonight from Medicine Hat is 7:30. The pre-game show on CJOC at 7.
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Will Metsola be back tonight?
ReplyDeleteI think it's going to be a game time decision. The coach said to me last night they don't want to rush Juha back with a lower body injury. I would assume they'll see how he feels today and then go from there. That's all I know at the moment in regards to that. Ben Wright is also a day-to-day thing. He'll likely be re-evaluated before today's game too.
ReplyDeletePat