Canes' Beat Pats 5-1

It was a decisive victory by the Lethbridge Hurricanes last night as they rolled over the Regina Pats 5-1.

Carter Ashton and Craig Orfino made their much anticipated return to the Enmax Centre with Regina after being traded to the Pats earlier this week. The Canes' played a solid first period and really carried the play from start to finish. Landon Oslanski opened the scoring early on a power play when Ashton was assessed a hooking penalty. About a minute later though, the Pats would get that one back on a man advantage of their own. Ashton assisted on the goal by Jordan Weal. Lethbridge out shot Regina 14-5 after 20 minutes of play.

In the second, the Canes' went up 2-1 on their second power play goal of the night as Max Ross tipped a point shot by Regina goalie Dawson Guhle. Both Ross and Brennan Yadlowski were involved on the Hurricanes first two goals of the game. Lethbridge was all over Regina in the second as they were in the first. The shot totals after two favoured Lethbridge 30-7 which really indicated which team was carrying the play. It was no doubt the best two periods of hockey the Hurricanes have played this season. The Canes' went up 3-1 with yet another goal on the power play as Graham Hood scored his first goal as a Hurricane against his former team to give the home team a 3-1 lead after 2.

In the 3rd, the Hurricanes kept it coming. Mitch Maxwell would put the home side up 4-1 with a great second effort sliding the puck through the legs of Guhle. That would take any wind out of the sales of the Pats. Not too long after, Austin Fyten notched a short-handed goal to give the Canes' a 5-1 victory. The final shots on goal in this one would be 40-16 Hurricanes. In my opinion, the best effort start to finish for the Hurricanes all season. There was no quit, no let up, and stop. The Hurricanes coaching staff rolled 4 lines all night long and every player got a piece of ice time in this one. The Hurricanes power play was dynamite for the first game in a long while finishing the night 3 for 7. Brennan Yadlowski had a great game for the Canes'. He had 3 assists and one fight and was the game's first star. Landon Oslanski was the second star and Luca Sibsa the 3rd. The first time this year all three stars were Lethbridge defencemen.

I had a chance to speak with Carter Ashton before the game. He admitted he was nervous to be playing against the organization he spent 3 seasons playing for. Ashton says it felt really strange walking into the opposition dressing room at the Enmax Centre. He told me he and Craig Orfino had been talking about the return ever since the trade took place a couple of days.

Two players for Lethbridge I really liked last night were newcomers Cason Machecek and Graham Hood. Machecek was solid on the blue line, played conservative and Rich Preston gave him a steady and regular shift. He also got into a fight against the Pats Andrew Sparrow and fared pretty well. As for Hood, he had some decent minutes too and scored against his former team. That was a big goal for Lethbridge as it put the Hurricanes up by a pair. He'll be a very good player for the Canes' I think. I'm sure as this season moves on those two guys will get a fair shake when it comes to ice time. We saw a lot more of Reners, Tot, and Moser last night too. I think those players will get more of a regular shift now as this season moves on.

Head Coach/GM Rich Preston talked extensively in our pre-game show last night about the big trade with the Pats this week. Actually, that pretty much dominated our pre-game conversation. He certainly didn't lean one way or the other as to whether more trades are in store before the deadline. You have to assume though that teams are calling about players like Luca Sbisa and Carter Bancks. Preston said earlier this week that it was no secret Sbisa is getting a lot of chat. Sbisa will not be returning to the WHL next season and neither will Bancks for that matter who graduates as a 20 year old after season. Many fans and a lot of media around the league are wondering if and when the Canes' will make another move in the next few weeks.

The Hurricanes next action is tonight when they take on Medicine Hat at the Enmax Centre. Game time is 6 pm (MT). This will be the 3rd meeting of this month between the two highway 3 rivals.

Thanks,
Pat