Close, but no cigar for the Hurricanes last night against the rival Tigers.
It was kind of a slow start for the Hurricanes last night. The Canes' found themselves down 1-0 after 20 minutes as the Tigers out shot the hometown Canes' 12-5. Ville Kolppanen got the start in goal for the Hurricanes and played very well in the first, making some high quality stops. A couple of fights in this game, less than 6 minutes in. Dustin Donaghy dropped the gloves with Tigers rookie Tanner Sohn for their first of two scraps on the night between the two and a few minutes after that, Kale Kessy and Brent Henke went toe-to-toe. No love lost between these two teams!
In the second, the Tigers kept it coming. They scored twice more including another one on the power play to take a 3-0 lead. The Hurricanes were out shot after two periods 23-9. Lethbridge just couldn't generate any offence through the first two frames last night. The Tigers played a solid road game through two and really didn't allow the Hurricanes to get anything going. Things changed though after that.
The Hurricanes came out gunning in the third and played their best period of hockey by far and put a pretty good scare into the Tigers I would say. The Canes' scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the period to close the gap to 3-2. Medicine Hat though would get that one back soon after. That goal proved to be big in this game. The Hurricanes, with 3 minutes left scored to make it 4-3, but that would be as close as the comeback would get. The Hurricanes out shot the Tigers 14-3 in the 3rd. Overall, the Tigers out shot Lethbridge 26-23. Carter Bancks, Craig Orfino, and Brennan Yadlowski scored for Lethbridge, while Tristan King did most of the damage for Medicine Hat scoring twice and adding one assist. In the 3rd, Donaghy and Sohn dropped the gloves for round two in another short fight. I'll give Sohn a lot of credit for scrapping twice against one of the toughest guys in the WHL. The Canes' were stymied through the first two periods and never generated any offence. Things changed in the 3rd though, when Lethbridge came out like a house on fire. It was too little too late though. The Hurricanes only showed up for one period last night and it cost them.
Associate Coach Matt Kabayama was blunt about things on our post-game show last night. He says the effort in the first two periods were "unacceptable" and as coaches, they're not frustrated, but instead disappointed with the effort.
I had a chance to have a long talk with Bob Ridley, the longtime voice of the Tigers before last night's game. This guy has seen it all in his 40 years calling games and driving the bus for Medicine Hat. He thought it was clearly the right call made on Saturday to postpone the game because of the blizzard. I agree . Ridley told me he always thinks back 21 years ago when four members of the Swift Current Broncos were killed in a bus crash during a horrible winter storm. Ridley says sometimes GM's and Coaches around the league just don't think about those kinds of things when it comes to playing games. He notes it's better to err on the side of caution when it comes to bad weather and he feels Rich Preston and Willie Desjardins did the right thing pulling the plug on the game and hopes other GM's around the league follow suit in similar situations. Well said, Rids, well said!
A Chat with Rich Preston
I asked the Head Coach and G.M. before last night's game about the upcoming January trade deadline and if he's getting any calls from other General Managers around the WHL. He says, "obviously teams look at your record and wonder what you are doing. There's no secret that Luca Sbisa is gone next year. Everyone wants him, so there's always talk going on. It's funny, people think that a deal happens in a day. We have talking about Cason Machacek since training camp."
So I guess time will tell as to what Preston plans on doing with the deadline pretty much a month away and the Christmas break just a week away. It should be interesting to see exactly what takes place.
Thanks,
Pat
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The canes should do something. No way should a bad team do nothing.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to get some young prospects who will want to earn icetime. Eg Rainers. Ashton, Sbisa and even Carter Banks seem to be disinterested. Banks was a game in game out winner of the hardest working player. He seems to have lost that grit and drive. There are flashes but its not 100% effort 100% of the time. If Sbisa and Banks are on the team at the end of the season I give up. I have no doubt Sbisa will be gone, but more drastic moves need to be made for the future. The team is 2 years away from being a contender in my eyes. That makes Ashton expendable. His play (effort) this season looks like the expression he has on his face in the program. Lets get something done so the boys are settled in before christmas. We are just risking injury right now. If Machacuk takes 4 months to get done for a fourth rounder I can not imagine how long it will take to trade Luca. The team knows it, the fans (what are left) know it. We are what we are. Portland used to be the laughing stock a couple years ago. We need a similar turnaround. Rich get your team on the ice. Not the mess you were left with. There are still players who remember how bad and embarassing last year was. This team needs a brand new culture and Rich needs to do it soon so the last 3 months are productive.
ReplyDeleteThe general theme of the comments is for this team to act now. Preston and his staff have had long enough to be able to assess this team and should know by now that it is going nowhere fast. There are assets to be traded and when there are teams out the eager enough to anty up, then seize the moment.
ReplyDeleteSbisa may be a great guide for the young defense, but he is more valuable in a trade. Bancks deserves to be deal to a contender as thanks for all he has done for this club. Ashton can only play with top notch players. He has become a "puck hog" and nine times out of ten loses the puck. Right now Reners looks like a wasted first roung pick, he has to be the slowest player on the ice.Rowat and Reddington could be others that garner interest. It is also time for Preston to start playing all 4 lines on a regular basis. It is the only way that Moser, Tot,Tarnasky will develop.It is an over worked phrase but it is so true with this club. The Future is Now!
RJ
Didn't think Tarnasky was a good pick for the team. Slow slow slow. Reners only plays well with first line players, he is not the first round pick they thought he was. He got alot of attention but truthfully the later picks in that draft were stronger. Moser 5th round much better. Quit picking those that have NHL brother last names it is not always the best.
ReplyDeleteagree with all the comment and i quit posting my opinion aready because you only can come on here so many times and say trade trade, trade....but the injury thing is bang on, someone gets messed up now and it will be the biggest downfall this team has had since last years desperate attempt to salvage a BAD year... besides that the only thing i would say is reddington would be nice to keep , he is solid and could help teach the youngster the game on the back end an would be here next year as maybe captain....maybe....
ReplyDeletewhen are they going to give some of their prospects a chance, bring them up for their 5 games, see how they can play against the big guys..can they be any worse than it is now..and if they dont look good see if they can trade..thank god for PG..but were close to that organization.. signed tired..
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is time to see who can be brought in in exchange for Sbisa and Bancks. I do think some are being a bit tough on Reners though. This is a kid who only needs to play. He actually garnered some decent ice time on Monday night and did well. No, he didn't score but he made the plays and was in there fighting for the puck or putting himself into position when he was supposed to. I think judgement on this young man needs to be held until he has been allowed to play a few games first. Two or three shifts in a game is hardly considered playing time.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy coming here, reading the comments and chuckling about all the energy that is spent by folks in calling down individual players. It is sad everyone has an opinion on here about this or that player. Let’s bear in mind these are KIDS playing in MEN's shoes and I wonder just how well any of you so called adults would fair in their place. If they read this column and saw the comments about this one is no good or that one is no good -- it is hard to believe they still have the want or desire to play for Lethbridge at all. We have given our team into the hands of a GM and Coach and although we may have opinions, and it is pitiful that some find it necessary to abuse these young kids who are trying. I know it is a business and I’m sure many of them are finding that out the hard way, but let’s garner some support rather than steady abuse. Hockey being a true Canadian sport, we could take some lessons from our neighbors to the South about being fans in good times and BAD. Speak to Pat or any media person who has been to Spokane, Seattle, or Portland once and see how their fans act??? The fans in Lethbridge pay money to come to a game and don’t even make a sound unless a goal is scored or an incorrect penalty call is made. We act like we deserve to be entertained - how bout being loud and support our team even if they are losing and maybe, just maybe, that will help fire them up. Make noise, be loud, let them know you are watching the game, not knitting a sweater. Cheer for hits, the saves, the penalties that have been killed off, boo the refs, boo when the other team touches the puck, instead of taking your evening nap. When they score, yell loud and jump up and down, you would be surprised how much enthusiasm that can create not only for the team but for the person next to you. You came to a hockey game -- not the cinema. I know we are good fans in Lethbridge and we care about our team, but come one folks, let’s show it. Don’t wait for them to score before you wake up – wake up and watch them score. It is too easy to get caught up in our own lil life and come to the rink to unwind, but maybe we should unwind first and come the rink enthused, excited, and ready for action. If we all did this for one or two game – I know the team would see our energy, feed off of it and we would all be on winning ways again. Now I’m sure this will create energy – will be positive or negative – and will be spent here or at the rink??
ReplyDeletePositive think all you want. When the talent is not there you can cheer all you want and nothing is going to happen. Fill the Enmax and this team would still miss the playoffs. And please don't give the "I'd like to see you do better out there" argument. These kids have made a choice to play in the WHL. There are many more low profile options they can make to play hockey. The criticism comes from years of positive thinking getting crushed by November. These kids must learn a valuable life lesson. You can't rely on others to pick you up or motivate you. If they were playing in an empty rink the effort should be the same as a packed rink. I pay a lot of money every year to watch the Hurricanes play. That gives me the right to demand effort. If I was watching a team at the Adams rink it is a different story. Some positions in life come with expectations. Choosing to play in the WHL means that the players will be held to a higher standard. Who cares if they are 16. If you want the perks you gotta accept some accountability. Until the Canes let me in for free and bring my own beer I will continue to expect value for my dollar. Nothing sucks worse than going to a weekend game and watching players who look like they would rather be somewhere else. Well maybe tigers fans, but thats it.
ReplyDeleteWell said. I can't argue with a single point you made. Having been to games in the U.S. division makes one ashamed of the fans here. Those fans are CRAZY. They go to every game to have fun. Maybe one day Lethbridge will support their team unconditionally as they do down there.
ReplyDeleteAllow me to confirm that my comments were made regarding the post on December 8th, as the most recent post beat me in.
ReplyDeletedont give up on this team just yet i say give it till christmas break because they got tons of games in hand on teams lots of teams will be without lots of players when all we lose is sbisa so we could make some hay and turn this ship around sooner than you think pat do you agree with me?
ReplyDeleteWell let's put it this way. I'm both an optimist and realist. Anything is possible in the WHL, but when you take a look at the Canes' record and their struggles, it certainly is going to be very difficult for this team to make up all this ground. Yes, they have games in hand, but they also have to win those games. I don't think the fans here commenting are giving up on the Hurricanes this year, they want to see the best for this club in the future. It's clear the majority of folks I've spoken with want to see the team start building now. The Hurricanes must start winning and keep winning if they want to get back into the race and at the same time hope the teams they're chashing slip up. Time is not on their side. Winning for Lethbridge is really the only option and consistently too. Every game the Canes' play in December expect for one is against teams in the Central Division. These are must win games if they want to claw their way back. The Hurricanes are 12 points out of playoff spot. I want to see this team be successful like everyone else, but you have to understand as well that trading your commodities when times are tough usually pays off the next few years if you make the right deals. I have no idea which way Rich Preston is leaning, but I'm sure he will do what is best for this team. That I'm confident in.
ReplyDelete