Canes' vs. Pats

Happy New Year!

The Lethbridge Hurricanes will try for their 3rd straight win tonight as they host the Regina Pats.

The Canes' came back from two goals down on Wednesday night to beat Medicine Hat 3-2 in overtime. The Pats on the other hand are struggling big time at the moment. They've lost 9 games in a row, including an 8-4 loss in Cranbrook on New Year's Eve. Regina has been missing two key players. Jordan Eberle and Colton Tuebert are both playing with Team Canada at the world juniors. The Pats also have a few injuries which hasn't helped their cause either.

This will be second time Carter Ashton and Craig Orfino return to Lethbridge since the Hurricanes traded them to Regina a few weeks ago. Part the Pats recent losing skid was a 5-1 Lethbridge victory over the Pats a few weeks back. It was no doubt the best played game of the season for the Canes'. Regina leads Lethbridge by 7 points in the Eastern Conference standings. The Pats are 10th while the Hurricanes remain in 12th spot.

Hopefully we'll find out more regarding Luca Sbisa's injury. Gregg Drinnan is reporting on his blog that Luca has gone back to Switzerland to get checked over by doctors there. He suffered what is said to be an abdominal injury in a game at the world juniors earlier this week. Sbisa is said to be out for 4 weeks. He was supposed to return to the Canes' line-up next Wednesday in Brandon, but if that's the case we likely won't see him for quite some time. 4 weeks would take Sbisa up to the Olympics as it was announced last week that he's made the Swiss men's team. After that is over it's almost near the end of February and by that time there will only be 3 weeks or so left in the regular season. Of course, many Lethbridge fans are wondering if this injury will have an impact on Sbisa's trade ability come the WHL deadline next Sunday. It's been widely speculated for months that Sbisa would likely be one of the most sought after players at trade deadline time if the Hurricanes decide to deal him away. Does all this now affect that?

After tonight's game, the first of 2010 for both teams, the Hurricanes will hit the road for their next 5 games. Tomorrow in Calgary at 5pm and then off to Brandon, Prince Albert, and Saskatoon next week and then the following week to Swift Current before coming back home for a pair of games mid month.

Tonight game starts at 7 o'clock from the Enmax Centre. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.

Thanks,
Pat