A very strong start for Lethbridge and they were rewarded with the first goal less than three minutes in. Cam Braes scored his 4th of the year to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead. The Canes' would keep things rolling with a power play goal. Michael Sofillas scored his first-ever Western Hockey League goal on the man advantage to give the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead before the game was even 10 minutes old. It looked like perhaps the period would end that way, but the Tigers would get both of those goals back before the period would end. Linden Vey scored with less than two minutes to go to cut the Hurricanes lead to 2-1 and then just 15 seconds later, off the draw at centre ice, Wacey Hamliton would tie the game at 2-2. The Canes' were all over the Tigers during stretches in the first period, out shooting Medicine Hat 16-11. The Tigers though found some life late and battled back to make for a very interesting final two periods of hockey.
In second period, the Canes' power play would click again. Phil Tot tipped in his 4th goal of the season off a Mike Reddington point shot to give the home team a 3-2 lead. The Tigers would press to tie the game before the period would end with a couple of late power play chances, but it would remain 3-2 Lethbridge after 40 minutes of play. Lethbridge again out shot Medicine Hat in the second period 10-7 and held the edge in shots 26-18.
In the third, Derek Ryckman would give the Hurricanes a two goal lead again when he wheeled around from behind the Medicine Hat goal and put the puck between the legs of Tigers goaltender Deven Dubyk. They jumped out to a 4-2 lead on that goal. The Tigers would battle hard in the final minutes of the game, but unlike in the first period Medicine Hat was unable to get two quick goals to tie things and the game would end 4-2 in favour of Lethbridge. The Hurricanes out shot Medicine Hat on the night 31-27. The Hurricanes power play, which has been a big issue for Lethbridge this season was dynamite for the second game in a row, once again going 2/4 while the Hurricanes penalty killers blanked the Tigers who finished the game 0/3 with the man advantage.
Another solid effort by the Hurricanes for the third night in a row. The Canes' have now rattled off three straight wins, the first time that's happened since October of 2009. Lethbridge is now three games above. 500 with a record of 9-6-0-3 for 21 points and temporarily tied with Moose Jaw for 4th place in the Eastern Conference. As Fred and I talked about on the broadcast Sunday, perhaps losing 7-0 in Medicine Hat earlier in the week woke this team up. The past three games have been fun to watch and no doubt a huge confidence booster going ahead into the next week of games. The power play has woken up too. After struggling with the man advantage, it's been the difference the past few games scoring four times.
After the Quarter-Way Point
This year's edition of the Lethbridge Hurricanes are a lot farther ahead of last year's team at the 18 game mark of the season. At the the quarter-way point last year, the Canes' were a disappointing 5-11-2-0 for just 12 points. Contrast that with a record of 9-6-0-3 and 21 points after the same number of games in the 2010/2011 campaign so far. Not bad at all, given they've been without one of the top scorers, that being Austin Fyten for 12 of those games. Mind you, one more win for the Hurricanes and they will be half-way to matching their entire win total all of last season.
Next Up
The Hurricanes will play three games in four nights coming up this week. On Wednesday, the struggling Calgary Hitmen will pay a visit to Lethbridge. The Hitmen have lost nine games in a row, so the Canes' will no doubt be playing a desperate hockey team looking to end a long skid without a win. The Hurricanes will also wear their new 3rd jerseys that night. They will be unveiled Monday afternoon. After Wednesday, it's on the bus and on the road for a few days. The Hurricanes will travel to Brandon on Friday and then play the Warriors in Moose Jaw Saturday before returning home. All the action can be heard on 94.1, CJOC.
Hurricanes This Week
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The weekly CJOC talk show hits the air again Monday night at 6:00 (MST). Fred Jack and I will be joined by Hurricanes Governor Herman Elfring who will talk about the Canes bid for the 2013 Memorial Cup. Also joining us with be Hurricanes Rookie Forward Russ Maxwell and in the final segment of the program, we will head to Calgary and talk with Brad Curle, the radio voice of the Calgary Hitmen.Pat
This blog post is brought to you by http://www.clearlylethbridge.com/.
Well, well it will be certainly interesting to see the long list of negative comments that are going to pour out after this weekend. Let's recap the positives: 3 wins in a row but also playing 3 games in 3 nights. They beat Kootenay (who were missing a couple of key players---but wait a second so were the Hurricanes). Then after getting home in the early hours of the morning, they beat Kamloops and came from behind to do so. Oh yes, they scored 2 powerplay goals. The third game in three nights they beat the Medicine Hat Tigers with a complete team effort, and 2 more powerplay goals! Scoring by committee and not just one or two players. So the Canes have 21 points good for 4th place in the conference, their PK is the 4th best in the league, their PP is showing life and they have a chance to win 4 in a row. Negatives? Oh yes there were only 3100 fans at the game but those who were there were into it!
ReplyDelete20 players all carrying lunch buckets went to work this weekend! They earned their 3 wins!
Way to go Canes!
RJS
What people were mad at was the lack of effort and the frustration of knowing that this team had more potential. Of course complaining is going to stop when the complaint is taken care of. Just like if you complain to a retailer and they make it right you are happy with the purchase. Good to see the team is working to meeting their potential. The negativity is just fans demanding what is expected. We have had too put up with lack of basic effort for too long. I say positive and negative comments depending what happens on the ice. All I hope for is this blog to have a minimum of posts. I just want to see some patting the guys on the back here also. Keep it up and you will have the community behind you. Tigers suck.
ReplyDeleteSku
Lots of positives this weekend. I think the biggest was the way they rebounded from the 7-0 shellacking from Med Hat Friday night. That win could be one of the biggest of the year. Beating Kootenay a top 3 in the league team showed they have the skill and character to beat any team in the league. Some big performances on the weekend from Hood and Kuvaev upfront and Johnston and Jackson on the backend. Lots of positives to build on. Go Canes! TD
ReplyDeleteCanes did something this weekend they had not done in the previous 15 games...shots on goal...the team still doesn't have great scoring individually but they figured out this weekend offense is a 5 man effort not just three forwards. Forwards are finally finding open D men for shots (how many goals came of rebounds?) and D men are pinching and forwards covering. I had not seen that all year and they had some amazing periods of offensive pressure during the Kamloops and Med Hat games. I don't know if this is good coaching or the boys figuring it out...do they need Fyten back absolutly , could they still use a goal scorer yes. But at least they are starting to work with what they have. Keep it going this week boys!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe this is the same collection of players that were so disjointed as a team earlier in the year. Effort, dedication, and interest is way up from coaches through the players. Nice to see Preston being more animated and proactive.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Sofillas, Reners, and RJ have noticablly increased their play. RJ has become our top Dman.
Ryckman was also much much much better last night minus his pass on his stomach to the Hat Dman in the Canes zone.
Finally we are getting the effort for our money, win or lose. :)
This weekend was what Hurricanes hockey is meant to be! I too need to single out Hood, Reners, Tot, Ross, Jackson and Kuvaev for collectively stepping up their games. The crowd was loud and proud. It was a great weekend to be a Hurricanes' fan!
ReplyDelete-cc
Nothing better than sending the Tigers home with bad memories. By the post-game celebration, you KNOW that our players thoroughly enjoyed the result! Thanks players and coaches for the fantastic effort!
ReplyDeleteOther than the absolutely ridiculous Delay of Game call on Anderson in the first, the two officals did a real good job of letting the teams play.
Congrats M. Sofillas on your 1st. If his play continues, he will have 10 more by Christmas.
What a great weekend of hockey for the Canes. Gaining some respect for themselves in the league, and, for a change, it is their opponents who get to "learn from these mistakes and move forward." - Richie.