Right: Linden Rowat plays the puck during his first practice with the Canes' in VancouverThe continued new-look Lethbridge Hurricanes will be hunting for their first win of the season tonight when they take on the Giants here in Vancouver.
This Lethbridge team looks a lot different from just two weeks ago and there have been many players coming and going over the past few days. Overage goaltender Linden Rowat will not get the start tonight. Head Coach and G.M. Rich Preston indicated to me early this afternoon that Ville Kolppanen will get the call tonight in goal giving Rowat some more practice time. Rowat should play tomorrow in Kamloops. He was picked up for a 5th round conditional draft pick from Regina after the Hurricanes lost 7-2 in Swift Current the other night.
The Canes' are in serious need of some stronger goaltending as they've allowed 26 goals against in their first 4 games this season. That's why Head Coach/G.M Rich Preston wasted no time in acquiring Rowat. He practiced with his new teammates here in Vancouver yesterday morning and again today.
Despite the o-4 start to the season, the good thing for Lethbridge is that there is lots of hockey to be played this season and if they can start finding the win column, there's no reason why they can't make up for some of those earlier defeats. A win here and a win there solves a lot for a struggling team. A win against an always tough Vancouver team would be a good way to start.
The Vancouver Giants come into this game tonight with a record of 3 wins, one regulation loss and one shootout loss. The Canes' haven't played at Pacific Coliseum since 2007 and will be back to play the Giants again in February, but because of the Winter Olympics, the Canes' and Giants will play at a new rink in Langley, home of the BCHL's Langley Chiefs.
Last Saturday's loss in Swift Current was a tough one for this team I think, given how well they played the night before in Red Deer. The Hurricanes tonight need to bare down on their chances around the net and capitalize on those scoring opportunities. Don Hay's Vancouver Giants don't give opposing teams many chances, so when the Canes' get a good opportunity this evening, they have to make the best of it.
Lethbridge has outshot it's opponents the past two games, which shows there is offence there, it's just a matter of putting the puck in the net and getting a timely save by either Rowat or Ville Kolppanan.
The Hurricanes had a good swift practice in Vancouver yesterday in preparation for tonight's game. This is a busy week for Lethbridge with 4 games in 5 days so eating right and sleeping right is key. It's all part of junior hockey. Every team goes through it.
Tonight's game from Vancouver is an 8pm start. The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:30.
Thanks,
Pat
Go Canes Go!!! Im feeling this road trip is gonna put some numbers under the WIN column for the Canes!!! Cheer them on!!! YEAH CANES!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou can only win if your top line is not a -5, and the favorites who are not performing get rewarded with more ice time.
ReplyDeleteYou can only win when you have a legit top line. Carter Ashton is the only guy who should be a top line player. Banks is not a top line player. He is the heart of the team but not a #1 player. I love watching him but he has limitations. This team has a severe lack of talent. We have thrown away draft after draft and now it is gonna be at least 3 years before Rich can put his team out there. Imagine where we could be if we did not trade for Beach. This team was a mess last year and Roy decides to save his job. We would be in a great spot if we could have traded Boychuk, Sbisa, King. Nobody would have take Wright but we could have gotten a great team moving foreward. If anybody sees Roy or the idiot who gave him his new job please drive your car directly in their direction.
ReplyDeleteSku frustrated in the bridge