The Hitmen came out gunning in this one. Goals by Tyler Fiddler and two from Zak Stebner, one on the power play put the visitors up 3-0 after one period. The Canes' had trouble generating offence as the Hitmen controlled the play from the drop of the puck in what was an early afternoon game at the Enmax Centre on Valentine's Day. Calgary out shot Lethbridge 13-4 after 20 minutes. Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Anderson was a busy guy between the pipes.
In the second, the period started off with a bang. Cody Sylvester, off the draw from centre ice drilled a shot over the Lethbridge goal and shattered a pane of glass resulting in a lengthy delay as the Enmax Centre maintenance crews were put into action to clean up the mess. Linden Rowat started the second as Head Coach Rich Preston elected to pull Brandon Anderson after he allowed three goals on the first 13 shots. After play resumed, the Hitmen grabbed a 4-0 lead when Giffen Nyren scored on the blocker-side of Rowat. Later on, Calgary would get another power play and Brandon Kozun would give the visitors a 5-0 advantage. The Hitmen were all over Lethbridge in the second. They would get one more before the end of the period to go up 6-0 when Jimmy Bubnik popped one by Rowat. The Hitmen out shot the Canes' 18-7 in the second period and 32-11 through 40 minutes of play.
In the third, the Canes' would finally get a couple of goals. Dustin Donaghy scored his second in as many games to make it 6-1 Hitmen and then later on the power play Mitch Maxwell scored to make it 6-2. For Maxwell, it's his team leading 26th goal of the season. That would be as close as the Canes' would get as they dropped another one. The Hitmen out shot Lethbridge 43-24 in this game. The Hurricanes have just one win in their past 11 games and two victories in their past 16 contests overall, while Calgary has won 8 games in a row and pushing for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Family Weekend
This past weekend was also Hurricanes Family Weekend. All the parents of the players travelled from here, there, and everywhere to watch their boys play hockey. Even Jacob Berglund's family was able to make the trip from Sweden. The only one's not able to make it were Ville Kolppanen's family from Finland. The Canes' held a special banquet for the families and billet families of the players Sunday evening.
Next Up
The Hurricanes have busy week ahead with four games in five nights. Wednesday the Swift Current Broncos pay their final visit to Lethbridge this season. On Friday, the Canes' head to Edmonton, Saturday it's back home to host the Kootenay ICE, and next Sunday a home date versus Edmonton.
Hurricanes This Week
It may be a holiday in Alberta Monday, but our weekly Hurricanes talk show will still take to the airwaves. We'll be LIVE from the Sharkclub on Mayor Magrath Drive Monday night at 6. Fred Jack is heading off to take in some of the Olympics in Vancouver so Marty Baceda from Global TV will fill in as co-host. Canes' G.M. and Head Coach Rich Preston will join Marty and I for a chat. We'll then speak live with Dick Gibson, the Chair of the Hurricanes/Broncos Alumni Committee to give some details on this coming weekend's inductions of Wes Walz, Brian Trottier, and the Lethbridge Hockey Hounds into the Hurricanes/Broncos Hall of Fame. Should be a fun program!
Thanks,
Pat
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