Canes' End Losing Streak With 3-2 Win

LETHBRIDGE - A shoot out winner by Captain Carter Bancks helped the Hurricanes end a six game losing skid with a 3-2 victoryn over the Kelowna Rockets.

A well played first period for Lethbridge last night. It was a fairly defensive opening 20 minutes. The Canes' grabbed a 1-0 lead on a goal by Brody Sutter. That ended a very long goalless drought for Sutter who hadn't scored in 35 games. Lethbridge out shot Kelowna 9-7 in the first.

In the second, the Rockets would turn up the heat on the Canes' and tied the game at 1-1 on a bullet off the stick of Geordie Wudrick. He rang the puck off the post and in to even the score. Not too longer after though the Hurricanes would get that back. Just as a Rockets penalty expired, Austin Fyten fired the puck passed Adam Brown to give Lethbridge a 2-1 lead. It was a fun period to watch really. Both teams had some really good chances. Kelowna though gave up a number of odd-man rushes that gave the Hurricanes a few good chances in this game. The Canes' actually had some of their best opportunities while short-handed. The shots after two favoured Kelowna 21-20.

In the third, Kelowna pressed for the equalizer, especially in the final minute and a half and after pulling the goalie Mitchell Callahan scored with 19.6 seconds left to tie the game 2-2 after the Hurricanes failed to clear the zone. The shots after regulation play were 37-25 in favour of the Kelowna Rockets. In overtime, the Hurricanes put on the pressure and had three very good scoring chances early in the extra frame, but neither team would score and they had to head to a shoot out to decide to outcome. Each team went through five players in the shoot out, but Carter Bancks would be the last one to score giving Lethbridge a 3-2 victory. The win ends a six game losing streak for the Canes'. The Rockets have now dropped five straight. The final shots after the O.T. were 39-28 Rockets. Linden Rowat had a very game in goal for Lethbridge and was given the first star in the win. It was a pretty exciting game to watch. Good end-to-end action pretty much from the get-go.

A Chat With Mike Reddington

A talked with Hurricanes veteran defenceman Mike Reddington last night and asked him about the focus in the final couple of weeks of the season. He said, "Well, we really don't have a lot to play for except for spots next year. We need to focus on eliminating the other team's scoring chances and throw pucks and bodies at the net."
What type of role do you hope to play on this team next season as an overage player? " I think for sure that I'll be a big leader. In these final games this season I need to show that I can be a big leader and carry that into next season."
What did Bryan Trottier and Wes Walz says to you guys as players in the dressing room after the game last Saturday following the Hall of Fame Inductions? "They told us to come in everyday to the rink and work on something that maybe we're not so good at. Everyday come in and try to make yourself a better player and eventually the losses will turn into wins."

Next Up

The Hurricanes will host the Kamloops Blazer tomorrow (Fri) night at the Enmax Centre. The Canes' are 0-2 vs. the Blazers this season. Game time is 7pm (MT). The Hurricanes will hit the road Saturday as they play the ICE in Kootenay.

Thanks,
Pat