The Lethbridge Hurricanes are now 0-5 to start the season after a 5-1 loss in Vancouver last night.
The Canes' found themselves in a lot of penalty trouble which kept the PK units on the ice an awful lot in the last half of the game. It was a tough loss for a team still trying to find it's way this season. They've surrendered 31 goals against and have scored a total of just 9. This team had trouble staying out the box against the Giants. Vancouver had 12 power plays Tuesday and scored three times. The Canes' went 0 for 5 with the man advantage.
The penalty trouble aside, the Canes' continued to misfire on some scoring chances I thought. At least three times during the game, players had good opportunities in the slot and simply missed the net. I talked about this on the broadcast many times last night that this team has to put the puck on the net when they get chances like that in close.
Last night's game was also one of the chippiest games I've seen in a long time. There was something taking place after almost every whistle and it was a steady stream of players heading to the penalty boxes on both sides. I think for both teams, it was tough to get any flow going with the amount of stoppages in the play.
The Hurricanes must play a more disciplined game tonight in Kamloops. This will be game 2 of this B.C. road trip and game 6 of 8 starting this season on the road. One good for this struggling team is that they seem to be upbeat and positive. That's a good thing. When things aren't going your way, teams can tend to get down and question themselves. Not this group. Not right now anyway.
With all the tinkering that's been done over the past week, it is going to take some time before it all comes together. I know for some people it's taking longer than some fans want, but I truly believe Rich Preston has made the right moves to make this a better club and from the emails I've received from fans in the last week or so, it appears a lot of people feel the same. Most Hurricanes fans I think are willing to let things play out and give Preston a chance to turn things around.
There no doubt though that the Canes' need to get a win and soon. This team doesn't want to let this losing skid continue for much longer. Winning can change a lot. Tonight, new goaltender Linden Rowat is expected to get the start. He watched from bench last night in Vancouver as Ville Kolppanen got the call instead. Now it's Rowat's turn to take the ball and run with it. The rest of the team needs to help out too. Rowat will need a solid defence in front and staying out of the box as much as possible will go a long way to stopping the slide for Lethbridge. This will take a team effort and not just one player is going to change things by himself.
Tonight game from Kamloops is an 8 o'clock start (MT). The pregame show on CJOC at 7:30.
Thanks,
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.
Doesn't look good this season. The goal scorers are GONE. Ashton, Bancks, valchar are going to have to step it up if they want to be first line goal scorers. Your next scoring line and probably top line by the end of the season would be rookies Moser, Reners and Brossoit. All three of them have skill and speed and head straight for the net. Taylor, Maxwell and Fyten will be now and thens. Taylor will probably put up some numbers this year from what I can see. He seems to show more grit and talent this year but You can forget about Sutter, Braes, Orfino and Henke. Those are 4th liners at best. Their goals will be lucky ones. Just not reliable, nor do they work well with others. They skate around but not much happens. Braes works hard and could fill in with Taylor line but he is another who just has not shown much for the experience he has. He is going on his third season. Those four Sutter, Henke, Orfino and Braes did nothing last yr and that has not changed. Tot has potential but not quite confident. Looks to be scared. Baillie ???? and Tarnasky is to slow. He will be taking stupid penaltys due to his slow speed that he will hurt the team. Big boy with some grit but needs skating on his side.
ReplyDeleteOn the back end you have Castro and Mystery who should be okay together. Castro has improved much this year and should do well. Mystery not looking to good right now but what can you do? Redddington and Oslanski could be a fit,time will tell. Ross and Rykman another good fit with Reid in the EXTRA D position to fill in for injuries.
With Rowat in net and Ville and Anderson fighting for back up spot, goaltending could be interesting. Anderson showed talent last season but Ville is just as good.
Team needs work that is for sure.
Team could use more trades when it comes to those 4th liner experienced guys that have done nothing. Unless they are put in the fourth line position and not relied upon for goals they will do the team no good.
Who is shooting on net? My answer is ROOKIE players. Shoots on goal are pathetic when it comes to the experienced players. It was the same last season with this group.
Boychuk, King, Beach, Fadden were the scorers and without them it is going to be a long season. Bancks and Ashton are goal scorers but not like those others.
Just got back in town and not up to speed with all right now but this is just my take on things.
Well, to update you. Castro was traded to Tri-city and Talyor was released to play Junior A in Canmore. Tadjdeh was sent home to Calgary after they picked up Rowat. There have been many changes with the acquisitions of Valchar from Portland & as you mentioned Reddington & Oslanski from Spokane.
ReplyDeleteWell I must comment on "anonymous" because you know nothing about hockey you dont even know who is on this team! And actually, Sutter and Orfino have been one of our better players so far. And talk about living in the past - Fadden? Boychuck? King? Beach? They have moved on - so should you. Yikes, you just got into town - I wonder from where? cause you are out to lunch. And while your at it, why dont you cut down the boys some more - it must make you feel good.
ReplyDeleteHi Pat!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say that I am sick and tired of "Fairweather Fans"! Everyone sure jumps on the bandwagon when the boys are winning but when times are tough all they can do is critize. These boys are working hard and can't even play in their own arena. They deserve so much credit and should still be holding their heads high-they are in the WHL not us!!
I was feeling a bit down until Anonymous essay/novel-writer reminded me how much TALENT we actually have on this team!! We now have a very different team than last year. Players roles are evolving. It may take some time for the group to learn the new systems that Preston believes in and get comfortable with one another. I am extremely confident that this team has enough elements to compete with any team we have seen so far (and we have seen some good ones).
ReplyDeleteI am sure that our players also realize how much talent we have, and that they continue to work hard until their hands soften up a bit and they start having FUN again! I am so pumped for October 9th! GO CANES! Richie.
Yup, the boys haven't won a game. But they will soon. They will gel. They will find their "sweet spots". They will all come together under Preston's vision and the wins will come. Will they win a division or conference title? Probably not. But they will improve. They will give us some good hockey. And next year they will be first out of the gate.
ReplyDelete