The Lethbridge Hurricanes simply weren't ready for the Chilliwack Bruins last night.
The Bruins came into the Enmax Centre and skated out with a 1-0 victory. This was a game I thought the Hurricanes could've won, but maybe they took a struggling Chilliwack team too lightly. The only goal of the game was scored mid-way through the second. The Hurricanes tried in the 3rd to tie things up, but just couldn't get the puck passed Bruins goaltender Lucas Gore. Chilliwack played a pretty road game actually and got the result they were hoping for.
The Hurricanes had too many missed chances I thought. A number of good opportunities close in that saw players shoot wide or high, missing the net. The Hurricanes need to bare down on their chances close in. Associate Coach Matt Kabayama said on our CJOC post-game show that this team was simply not ready to play Chilliwack Wednesday and he made it clear they will need everyone on board this weekend when they play 3 games in 3 nights on the road.
Ville Kolppanen played very well in goal for Lethbridge I thought, despite giving up the goal. Perhaps he deserved a better fate. He had a good outing in his first ever home start and in front of some family members who came from Finland this week to watch him play.
Another positive I think was the Hurricanes special teams. The power play obviously was unable to click Wednesday, but the penalty killing again was good, keeping the Bruins off the score sheet. This has been a real plus for Lethbidge this season. PP and PK were two areas that the Canes' kind of struggled last season, but it sure has been a bright spot this year so far. The Canes' have one the best penalty kills in the WHL right now and a very consistent power play as of late too. They will need both those areas to be equally as good heading this weekend.
I would expect the Canes' to be ready for Brandon tomorrow. Games like last night can leave a bad taste for a team and give them that jump they need the next night. A little motivation you might say. The Hurricanes will need a much better start in each game this weekend if they want to make it tough on their opponents and give them a chance to win.
Carter Bancks said on our post-game show last night that the younger players played well Wednesday, but the team didn't get much production from it's veterans. I would have to agree. They need to get a stronger effort from everyone this coming weekend.
Tomorrow the Canes' are in Brandon (6:30pm MT), Saturday in Regina (7pm) and Sunday in Moose Jaw (7pm). This will be a very good test for this Lethbridge team against 3 teams they have to play this season. I will be a good test to see how this group will rebound after last night's 1-0 loss on home-ice.
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.
We need to pick up a player better than Carter Banks. He is playing right now like he thinks he is the best player on the team. In the past he has had Luca, Zack, Fadden etc as players he had to work harder than. This is the first season I have seen him take a game off. Now you are the leader do what you are best at. Lead by example.
ReplyDeletethe problem is bigger than just bancks, with the exception of reddington and rowat the 89,90, group of players are probably the weakest group in the dub,most of these guys are 4th line checkers at best.the former gm did a TERRIBLE job of keeping the age groups solid and preston has to pay for it..even the 91 group seems to struggle this year..with ashton signing his nhl deal and being the only player of big value on a rebuilding team, he should be moved at the deadline to fill a TON of weak spots so they can go into next year as a stong young team. that way mr preston can put his stamp on HIS team not the former gms .......IMO..........
ReplyDeleteWe should see this season for what it is. We are not going to make the playoffs, if we do it will be 1 and done. Trade value goes down as time goes on. Banks has to be dealt. Great kid but this is a business. We can't let him walk next year and get nothing. Same thing for Ashton. If we get some youth early Rich can develop them as he wants. Getting some players at the deadline cuts down the time you have with them. We already got Beach traded for players who do not seem to be in the long term plans. Rich may have wanted to stabalize the situation but he is just coming up with a band aid solution. This team needs to build to be a perenial contender. This can be done, Calgary is # 1 again. Blow this thing up Rich. Last nights game was painfull to watch. For all the "chances" the canes got nobody could hit the net. There was nothing exciting or anything to be optimistic about. The players and coaches may say they just did not show up. Fact of the matter is that the players we have now are not very talented. Last night looked like we had a team of Yashir Farmanara's out there. In the right spot but don't have the talent to get the job done. We can outwork other teams but that only wins so many games. The cream rises to the top and we got left with skim milk. There is a lot of work to do. Just imagine if the former GM had not tried to save his job last year picking up Beach. We would have a first rounder in the system. If he was a realist like many fans he would have seen that that team was going nowhere. What would the team look like this and next year if we just looked in the mirror and traded Boychuk, Sbisa, King, Wright, Juha etc. Now we lost all those assets for nothing. The house has burned down and we got no insurance. Square 1 is not a fun place to be but it is where we are at right now. Hopefully status quo is not the thinking going on in the front office. It's gonna be a long year but I am hoping for signs of progress.
ReplyDeleteChilliwack has earned 6 of a possible 8 points in its last 4 games. Hardly a struggling team.
ReplyDeleteTopic for discussion...
ReplyDeleteWhat are you going to do with your playoff deposit money this year since you won't have to give it to the Canes to hold hostage for 6 months?
what were the fighting trio doing at the end of the game. Really? It seemed to serve no purpose. Banks and his partner just ended it and seemed to thank each other and make dinner plans. That is not what trying to get the team fired up is all about. If you are going to put in a half hearted effort people will notice. I was not fooled by that stupid display. You can't have a line brawl at the end of the game and fool people into thinking that you just put in 60 minutes of work. Carter lead by example during the game and not after we are walking to the exit. Bring back the Banks of the last 3 years. The chip on your shoulder is gone. Get the emotion back and don't do it with a half hearted scrap at the end of the game against a team we never see or care about.
I knew LA fans were brutal, but you group of Anonys making comments in this post are almost as bad as Med-Hatters. - Next thing you know, you will be booing your home team at the Enmax.
ReplyDeleteChilliwack does not suck! Sundher (#9) is one of the more talented, and fastest skaters in the league, and our guys kept up to him pretty good.
Dissing CB7? No way. Bancks is still the hardest working Cane. He has already thrown himself in front of more shots than any of you Pillsburys can count to. You call him a poser, you obviously have no freaking clue. He has never taken a game off; he never will.. doesn't know how.
We can't expect this new collection of players to gel instantly. Have any of you anonys ever even laced 'em up before? Ever score a goal? Ever thrown a hit? Ever break your nose, leg, arm, ankle, or foot from a puck?
These guys are 16-20! What were you anonys accomplishing at age 18?
There are enough players on this team that have talent, and they can all score goals. Reners, Tot, Moser, Braes, Bancks, Sutter, Maxwell, Orfino, Fyten, Henke, Valchar, Ashton,.. they will get it figured out.
D is still way too soft on opposition, no offense will ever be afraid to go at them until they get tougher and play the body more, but otherwise, the roster is good enough to beat any team. Maybe Mitch Versteeg can swing by and teach the guys how to throw those A+ hip checks, WOW!
Good thing none of you anonys are the GM, because you would all suck at it!
Have fun this weekend, guys, we'll be watchin'. - Richie.
Wow, three wins and hardly a response on this blog. We lose one in OT and not much is said. But lose a 1-0 game and all hell breaks loose! Trade Bancks, trade Ashton! Are you kidding me? Give these boys a chance! Perhaps the three wins got into their head too much and they were over-confident playing Chilliwack. But they are still inmproving and learning every step of the way. Try sitting in the seats and supporting them rather then jumping all over them after this loss. Where were the positive comments when they were winning?
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