Pats End Losing Streak Against Canes'

Former Hurricane Carter Ashton scored twice as the Regina Pats ended a long 9 game losing streak at the Enmax Centre Saturday. Penalties proved very costly for the Hurricanes last night.

A wild and wide open first period between the Hurricanes and Pats. The Canes' jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than 13 minutes in on goals by Marc Reners and Brent Henke. The Canes' seemed to have control of the game and held the Pats to just 2 shots up to that point. Lethbridge though would get into some penalty trouble and paid the price. The Pats took that opportunity and ran with it from that point on. They scored to make it 2-1 Canes' and then just as Regina's 3rd power play would come to an end late in the first, Carter Ashton evened the score for Regina with barely no time left on the clock. The goal would go to video review, but it confirmed the puck did go in before time expired. The Pats rattled off 10 straight shots in the last 7 minutes or so to out shoot the Hurricanes 12-6 after one.

In the second, the Pats would take the lead for the first time on yet another power play goal. The Hurricanes got caught napping on a line change and Garrett Mitchell scored to give the Pats a 3-2 lead. Regina managed to rattle off 3 straight goals after being down 2-0 in the first. The shots after two were 26-16 Pats. The Canes' had a few good chances, but unable to get the puck passed Pats goalie Brett Martyniuk. Austin Fyten left the ice about mid-way through the second and did not return for Lethbridge. It appears he suffered a hip injury.

In the third the Pats would seal the comeback with another power play goal, the second goal of the game for Carter Ashton. Regina would go on to out shoot the Canes' 38-29 overall. Regina's power play was lethal in this one going 3 for 8. The Hurricanes went 0 for 4. Penalties seriously hurt the Hurricanes. Give Regina credit though. They didn't look good at all in the first 13 minutes or so and managed to dig deep, pour it on, take control and eventually win the game.

Sbisa Injury Update

I asked Head Coach/GM Rich Preston about Luca Sbisa's abdominal injury he suffered recently playing with the Swiss team at the World Juniors. He told me the injury is more of a hip problem and taht Luca went back to Switzerland to see a specialist there. Preston says Sbisa doesn't seem to think the injury is as bad as first thought. It's been reported that will sideline Sbisa roughly 4 weeks. Preston said this is a week to week thing and until Sbisa sees a doctor, he really doesn't know much more than that.

The Hurricanes next action is tonight when they play for the first time at the Saddledome in Calgary. It'll be Rich Preston's first visit back to that rink since he was an assistant coach with the Flames. The Canes' stunned the Hitmen, beating Calgary in the first meeting of the season between the two Central Division opponents back in Lethbridge a few months ago. It was the first time the Canes' beat Calgary in since the Eastern Conference final in 07/08. These two clubs will get to know each well in January as they play 4 times between now and the end of the month. Preston said last night that Linden Rowat would get the start in goal against the Hitmen. He was a back-up last night to Brandon Anderson who's carried the load since Rowat went down with a foot injury in a game against Seattle two months ago. This is Rowat's first game action since then. He's been practicing for the past week. Goalie Ville Kolppanen will be a healthy scratch for the Hurricanes for the second game in a row.

Tonight's game from Calgary is a 5pm start (MT). The pre-game show on CJOC at 4:30.

Thanks,
Pat