A wild finish at the Enmax Centre on Halloween night as the Brandon Wheat Kings beat the Hurricanes 5-4.
The Wheaties scored the game winner with 13 seconds to go in regulation. Not too long before that, the Canes' had pulled the goalie and tied the game at 4 with just 31.5 seconds remaining. It looked like the game was headed to overtime until Brandon managed to score the late game winner, stunning the 3001 fans at the Enmax. The Hurricanes battled back from 2-0, 3-1, and 4-3 deficits, only to lose a heartbreaker. The Canes' were heavily outshot 16-3 after 20 minutes of play. Brandon would out shoot the Hurricanes 39-21 when it was all said and done.
Lethbridge had trouble generating offence through the first half of the game, but they did manage to find the twine. In fact, Mitch Maxwell had a stellar night despite the loss. He scored three times to lead the way offensively. Maxwell now has 9 goals on the season. Carter Ashton added 3 assists.
There was a big scrap mid-way through the first period when Neil Tarnasky dropped the gloves with Brandon's Ryler Miller. Some big blows were thrown in that fight. Tarnasky left the ice bleeding and never returned to the game.
The Hurricanes problems as of late have been their slow starts. They've struggled in the first period in each of their past 4 games, forcing Lethbridge to try and battle back from behind to try and win games. A good start is key to getting the jump on an opponent. Cam Breas said on our post-game show last night that the slow starts as of late are "unacceptable". The Canes' I'm sure will be working hard to change that as this home stand continues.
The Hurricanes played the game Saturday night minus their two regular goaltenders. Linden Rowat sat the game out after he was injured early against Seattle on Friday. It appears to be an ankle injury and the usual back-up Ville Kolppanen is still sidelined with a concussion. Brandon Anderson played between the pipes while Dylan Tait, who started the season with the Kootenay Ice was called up as the 4th stringer to back-up Anderson. Eric Mestery missed his second straight game with the flu.
Hurricanes This Week Monday
For the second time this season, Fred and I will be taking the show on the road. Monday night at 6pm we will be broadcasting the program live from the Shark Club on Mayor Magrath Drive. Our popular Hurricanes Media Panel will be at the Shark Club this week. Fred and I will be joined by Dylan Purcell from the Lethbridge Herald and Paul Kingsmith from Global TV. Any comments or questions can be e-mailed to hurricanes@pttwireless.ca. Also after several inquiries from listeners we will start taking calls on the talk show again. Fans who would like to comment that way can call our studio during the talk show at 403-388-4646. There is a lot to talk about with Luca Sbisa coming back and the fact the Hurricanes have now hit the quarterway point in the 09/10 season and what we should expect as the season moves on. Should be a good show. We will be set up downstairs at the Shark Club so feel free to stop by and watch the show live. CJOC will broadcast one live Hurricanes This Week each month from the Shark Club.
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.
hurricanes problems as of late...too funny, how many more time are we going to have to hear this..this is a rebuilding year and for people that say" i cant believe people are saying trade ashton and sbisa this early in the year" are dreaming....if preston keeps this team together without tradeing the assests he has get use to this garbage hockey for the next couple of years....the problem isn't a slow start its a lack of talent, and anyone that cant see this is blind...trade the talent you have right now to get a jump for the future or get use to the small crowds you seen tonight ...trust me after 20 years of season tickets its not hard to see the future of canes hockey.....5-11-2-0 says it all..quit treating it like your a contender and face the facts.....
ReplyDeleteWheat King fan here.. we'll take Ashton off your hands.. which prospects do you want?
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness, just thought I'd post that I rented the game on the WHL WEBtv last night and I usually just sync Brandons play by play with the video, but stuck with your play by play and enjoyed it. Wasn't too biased ;)
The Hurricanes problems lie in their slow starts and relying on third period miracle comebacks. The Canes need more scoring depth if they have any hopes of clawing their way into the playoffs. I have to agree that trading your assests now is a bad idea, but with 1/4 of the season behind us, at the current rate the team will end up with a record of 20-44-8 and out of the playoffs. It will get interesting as the trading deadline draws near. Sbisa, Ashton, Bancks, Rowat, Mestery could all return top draft picks and players which = the future.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the fans in this city, as I overheard a couple of fans say "I can see why Anaheim sent back Sbisa". So the negative comments start already. In this city POOR RECORD = POOR ATTENDANCE.
I suppose I am one of the "blind" ones. I think it is way to early to be talking about trading away all our assets.
ReplyDeleteAs for Sbisa, I hope the fans cut him some slack. He played his first game with the Hurricanes on Friday night. This after arriving late the night before and having little more than a skate with the other boys Friday morning.
Shame on Lethbridge for leaving the seats empty and only being supportive if the team is on a winning streak.
Even with the little prep time he had, Sbisa looked fantastic on a couple of end-to-end rushes, nearly scoring on one solo effort.
ReplyDeleteEchoing/supporting blind-anonymous, we should not even consider trading away our stars until we see where we are in January; their stock just rises until then anyway!!
Lethbridge fans often leave early, very strange since a lot of great hockey and other exciting and memorable events happens in the last couple minutes, or even after the game (right, Kyle Beach??)
Considering that we beat one of the top teams in the league (Wheat Kings) in BRANDON a couple of weeks ago, AND... considering we just about took them to OT in our 3rd string's FIRST start of the year,...
I'd say it is the 2010 Mem-cup host Brandon Wheat Kings that should be worrying about ITS team with only a 1-1 record against US!! - Richie.