Hurricanes Lose 4-1 at Kootenay

A tough loss for the Hurricanes last night on the road in Cranbrook.

The Canes’ dropped a 4-1 decision to the Kootenay Ice in a game that saw Canes’ starting goaltender Juha Metsola go down with what looked to be scary injury. Metsola was inadvertently hit late in the first period when a Kootenay player was driving to the net and couldn’t get out of the way. Metsola hit the ice hard and was taken off the ice on a stretcher and to hospital for observation. The injury looked a lot worse than it was. The medical staff in Cranbrook did a great job and took every precaution necessary in case the injury was more serious. I’ve been told Metsola will be O.K. and likely out about 5 days or so and hopefully ready for round one of the playoffs.

The game was scoreless through the first two periods. Zach Boychuk scored 22 seconds into the 3rd to give the Canes a 1-0 lead and break the scoreless tie. The Ice came back and scored 4 straight, including 2 short-handed, one on the power play, and the other even strength to win the game 4-1. The Hurricanes were also outshot 36-18. The loss automatically sets up a Lethbridge-Saskatoon first round series starting March 20th and 21st next Friday and Saturday in Saskatoon. Games 3 and 4 will be back in Lethbridge Tuesday and Wednesday March 24th and 25th. So get your playoff tickets! The Hurricanes can go no higher than 7th place in the Eastern Conference even if they win tonight versus Calgary. Kootenay will take on Brandon in the first round and Swift Current will meet Medicine Hat. All those series begin next week. The Calgary Hitmen still don’t know if they play Prince Albert or Saskatoon.

It was an interesting ride home too. A problem with the bus's coolant system forced us to the side of the highway for about 3 hours overnight. We didn't arrive back in Lethbridge until about 6:15 this morning. A repair crew from Cranbrook had to come out and fix the problem. The usual 3 and half trip took closer to 7 hours.

Before tonight’s game against the Hitmen, the Hurricanes will give out their regular season awards. A number of different trophies will be handed out to the players. I’ll have a full recap of those awards on here tomorrow.

This game tonight really doesn’t mean anything for Lethbridge in the standings, just a bit of a tune game for the playoffs. Once the game is over though, the focus will switch to the playoffs and the Saskatoon Blades.

Game time tonight is 6 o’clock. The pre-game show on CJOC at 5:30.