Hi from Edmonton. We arrived here about 5:30 Sunday morning after a trip from Saskatoon that saw the bus have to plow through snow drifts on the highway and blowing snow between Lloydminster and Edmonton, but we made it!
A come-from-behind win for the Hurricanes in Saskatoon last night. It was a game that had a sea-saw battle, wide-open first period, a scoreless second, and two goal third by the Canes’ to win it 4-3. The Blades and Hurricanes managed 5 goals total in the opening 20 minutes at the Credit Union Centre. Saskatoon opened the scoring, Lethbridge would tie it and that continued with the Blades taking a 3-2 lead into the dressing room after one. Things tightened up defensively in the middle frame with no scoring to report, but in the 3rd, the Hurricanes would score twice....once to tie it at 3 and then the game winner by Dwight King a few minutes later. Lethbridge battled back 3 times to tie, eventually take the lead and win. After a shaky first period by both teams, it was a very entertaining game in front of a large crowd in Saskatoon. If these two teams happen to meet up in the first round, I would think it would be quite the battle. Kyle Beach, Zach, Boychuk, and Mitch Versteeg scored the other Lethbridge goals.
With the Kootenay Ice winning in Medicine Hat last night, the Canes remain in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, still a point back of the Ice and now only 4 back of the Tigers with 4 games to go. 6th spot and even 5th spot isn’t out of the question for Lethbridge yet. With a week to go in the regular season, it should be a very entertaining and interesting few days. As I’ve said before, we likely won’t find out who’s playing who until the final day of the season next Sunday.
The Hurricanes have now won 4 of their past 5 games and 3 in a row heading into this game in Edmonton late this afternoon. The Oil Kings and Hurricanes have played some close games this season. Edmonton is fighting for their playoff lives. They currently hold down the final playoff spot in the East, tied with Prince Albert. The Oil Kings are hoping to make the post-season in only their second year back in the WHL. This should be a pretty good match-up. Colton Sceviour and Carter Ashton have been Oil King killers this season and lead the Hurricanes in offence against this Edmonton team.
After this game, Lethbridge has only 3 games to go. Back-to-back this Friday and Saturday against the Kootenay Ice, huge games to say the least, and then a Sunday evening game a week from tonight at the Enmax Centre versus the Calgary Hitmen.
An interesting week it will be!
Tonight’s game in Edmonton is a 5 o’clock start. The pre-game show on CJOC at 4:30.
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Pat,
ReplyDeleteHome Ice advantage (4th place) is NOT out of reach for the 'Canes!!
You may be underestimating the 'Canes a bit; certainly statistically you have :-)
It would be a bit of a stretch, yes, but 4th place is currently within reach for the 'Canes.
By winning their remaining 4 games (Edm, Koot, Koot, Calgary), the 'Canes would hit 81 points.4th place Swifty has only 80 right now.
I think we can count on Brandon beating Swift. Regina then plays Swift back to back next weekend, so if Regina wins both in regulation, we can make 4th. If Swift gets even a point in any of these 3 games, they would get 4th with 81 points (more wins than 'Canes).
The rest of the scenario is not that unrealistic really...
If Kootenay beats the Medicine Hat Fighters, I mean Tigers tonight, and when the Tigers LOSE to Red Deer and Calgary (they probably will), then they can't make 4th. Even if the Tigers manage to beat Dead Rear (they won't), they still probably won't beat Calgary, so the most they can finish with is 79.
Even if Kootenay beats Medicine Hat and Edmonton this next week, they will have only 78. If they tie us both games in our home/home series next weekend, as long as we win both, we will take 4th place.
SO there you go, don't count us out yet!!
Lets get er done!! Go Canes!! Go get 4th place. Start tonight with the best effort of the season!!
Richie.
Nice theory Richie, boy did that train of thought ever get de-railed in the very NEXT game.
ReplyDeleteNice try though. 4th? Pfffffftttt.
Stevie