A very costly penalty for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in overtime last night as the Portland Winterhawks pulled out a 4-3 win at the Enmax Centre.
The Hurricanes had to battle from behind all night long. In fact, the Canes' tied the game three times, but couldn't find that go ahead goal. It was certainly a tough loss for a team that had just come off two road losses on the weekend. Portland scored it's first goal on a penalty shot and the game winner on a power play with less than a minute to go in O.T. The Hurricanes though did get two goals on the power play.
A frustrated sounding Austin Fyten was on our CJOC Greer Home Builders post-game show last night and said the Hurricanes lost the game in the second period, which they were outshot 16-12. He said, "We need to be better as a team and on the ice."
Portland is a pretty darn good team though. They sure didn't look like a team playing it's 5th game in 7 days. The Hawks actually looked better as the game went on. The organization I think needs to be commended for changing that entire team around. Portland is a big team too in size. Fans who've seen them play know exactly what I mean. The Winterhawks are by far the biggest team in the WHL, but they play quick and physical. They are certainly an interesting team to watch and should provide a few headaches for their opponents as this season moves on.
So now the Hurricanes have the next few days off before playing their next game on Sunday night in Lethbridge against Moose Jaw (6pm). I would guess it'll be a business-like attitude for this group during practice over the next few days. The Canes' really didn't play all that bad last night, just a few mistakes that cost them in the end. It's important though that the Canes' try and eliminate some of those small things that have factored in them being on the other side of the score at the end of the night.
Head Coach/GM Rich Preston stressed the importance of this home stand on our pre-game show last night. He said the next month of hockey at home in Lethbridge is make it or break it as far as he's concerned. Preston also noted that sometimes with a lot of games at home a team has a tendency to become stale. Not to worry though. Preston says the coaching staff has a few things planned to make sure the players stay focused.
The Canes' currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference, tied with Kootenay at 10 points. Lethbridge has a record of 4-9-2 in 15 games.
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.
Great lesson in narcissism for all the referree fans out there; Savage is the best at it. Be the star of every hockey game you ref. Bad call after bad call after bad call. Sometimes it was distracting with all the hockey players skating around, but Savage always finds a way to make it about him. How does he keep his job? - Richie.
ReplyDeleteYou are speaking of an official that was last seasons representative of the WHL at the Memorial Cup. Along with being voted the 2008-2009 Best Referee. Guess you have to blame someone for the loss though.
ReplyDeleteGotta agree with Richie here. A penalty shot awarded to the Hawks on a routine shoulder-to-shoulder check, then a non-call on a blatent hit by the Hawks from behind into the boards on Braes late in the third, yet for some reason THEN he decides penalties should be called and calls the trip on a nothing-at-stake play in OT? - Come on anonymous,... I mean Mrs Savage, your husband is text-book Narcissistic, and yes, the best of a lot of lousy referees who need to find some consistency.
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