Well, the Hurricanes have a chance tonight to knock off the number two seed in the Eastern Conference if they can can pull off a big win on home-ice in game six, but trust me..it won't be easy!
The Hurricanes beat the Blades 3-1 in Saskatoon in Game five on Saturday. Zach Boychuk again was fantastic and so was goaltender Juha Metsola. Boychuk scored what maybe was the nicest individual effort of the series so far with 4.5 seconds to go in the second period when he stole the puck short-handed at centre, moved into the Blades zone and with a great second effort poked the puck passed Blades goaltender Braden Holtby. That was the goal that clearly turned that game around. Boychuk now has 6 goals and 2 assists in 5 games in this series. He also added an assist on the opening goal by Colton Sceviour. Kyle Beach added the insurance marker in the 3rd. Juha Metsola stood on his head in the 2nd period and really gave Lethbridge a chance to win it.
As I've said many times before, a lot of people expected this was going to be a long series that could go either way. The Hurricanes have the upper hand right now. The team is a confident bunch I would expect coming home for game six here tonight.
The Canes' may have the lead in the series and the Blades on the brink of elimination, but I know for a fact Saskatoon will come out gunning in this one, they have to. They have to win this evening to force a final game 7 on Wednesday back in Saskatoon. This Blades team is good....very good in fact. They are the league's best team this season on the road and that bodes well for them. They didn't finish the regular season with 103 points just by chance. I expect Saskatoon to fight tooth and nail and play a desperate style of game. In every series, the potential knock out game is the toughest for teams to win. Perhaps, the Hurricanes playoff experience of last season will come back to pay dividends tonight.
The Hurricanes though just need to keep playing the way they have the past two games. They've taken advantage of their chances. The penalty kill for both teams has been solid and so has the goaltending. Lethbridge is hoping for a good crowd tonight as well. The Blades fans responded in game five the other night with close 75-hundred people at Credit Union Centre. Hopefully tonight, the great Hurricanes fans will pack the Enmax Centre for what should be a very entertaining contest!
Game time tonight is 7 o'clock. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
Talk to you then!
Pat
The views expressed on this blog are those of the moderator and contributors and are not endorsed by 94.1 CJOC or the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
I'd love to see another game 7 in round 1. I haven't been impressed with the Blades at all. Canes are doing a good enough job at shutting them down, especially on the power play. A Hitmen-Hurricane 2nd round would be a good series.
ReplyDeleteOf course you would love a game 7 why not take them in 6 tonight Mike, i am thinking you have fatigue on your mind with a comment like that :) ?
ReplyDeleteGO CANES GO
get it done tonight.
Actually I think it would be the opposite, the Canes, if they win this series have been playing an extra week. It will be 9 days between games for the Hitmen, who could show alittle rust in game 1.
ReplyDeletepat are you taking the day off or exhausted from last night :)
ReplyDeletecaniac 2
No time off! LOL! Just a travel day to Saskatoon all day on the bus. I will set up game 7 of this series tomorrow morning!
ReplyDeleteI was kidding and knew you were on the bus, anyhow here's hoping the Canes play their heart's out in Game 7.
ReplyDeleteAny news on Carter B, was told he was out for the series or season from a very realiable source.
GO Canes GO
So far no more news on Carter Bancks. Still injured. I think having him on the bench like the coaches have, has been important. He's a key guy to have around. If not playing on the ice, then to have his leadership on the bench is important. Right now, no changes with Bancks that I know about. According to the media info I get before each game, Bancks is listed as day-to-day. I don't know if that'll change.
ReplyDelete