KAMLOOPS, BC - Three goals in the third period, including one on a penalty shot lifted the Lethbridge Hurricanes to a huge 4-1 win over the Kamloops Blazers Friday.
For the second game in a row, the Hurricanes opened the scoring. Alex Kuvaev, who's been a healthy scrtach for the last number of games got things going in this one. The Russian scored his 11th goal of the season to give Lethbridge a 1-0 lead. A minute and 10 seconds later though, the Blazers would find the equalizer. Dylan Willick was left alone in front of the Canes' goal and he would beat Brandon Anderson up high to tie the game at 1-1. Not too long after that, the Hurricanes nearly made it 2-1, but Cam Braes was robbed by Jeff Bosch point-blank and the period would end in a 1-1 tie. Kamloops out shot Lethbridge 11-8 in the opening 20 minutes of this game.
In the second, both teams had some great chances to take the lead, but there would be no scoring in this period. Austin Fyten briefly left the game for Lethbridge but returned soon after and would play a key roll later in the game. Kamloops held the edge in shots on goal 25-16 following 40 minutes of play.
In the third, the Hurricanes would regain their one-goal lead and add a few more. First, Brody Sutter took a pass from Austin Fyten and buried it behind Jeff Bosch for his 14th goal of the season. That broke the 1-1 deadlock and gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead. Just over a minute after that, Mitch Maxwell broke in on a partial breakaway and was hooked back. That triggered a penalty shot call and Maxwell would make no mistake. He put a back-hander between the legs of Bosch for his 18th goal of the year and the Canes' had a 3-1 lead. After that it appeared the Blazers kind of shut down. Maxwell would get one more into an empty net in the dying seconds for his 18th of the season and the Hurricanes would go on to win the game 4-1. It was just the Canes' 8th win on the road this season, but a huge one as it moves Lethbridge back into a tie with Prince Albert for the final playoff spot in the East. The Raiders lost 5-3 to Moose Jaw Friday. Kamloops held a slight edge in shots 31-28 in this game and both teams went 0 for 3 on the power play.
The Canes' played hard in this game and were full value for the win. Just like in the Chilliwack game, the contest was tied 1-1 going into the third period. It really could've went either way. It was nice to see Alex Kuvaev back in the line-up too. For him, finding the back of the net in the first period was big for the Russian as he hasn't scored in quite a long time and had been in and out of the line-up as a healthy scratch for the last number of weeks. Phil Tot left the game in the first period after taking a hard check and fell awkwardly into the boards. He never returned and will likely be out a few games. Tot suffered a concussion just before Christmas when he was hit in Medicine Hat.
TIE-BREAKER FORMAT
Just in case this is needed, I thought I'd throw this up too. From the WHL: "In the event two teams are tied in points for the final playoff position, then these clubs will play a sudden-death game in the home arena of the team having won the most games in the WHL standings." I've have a few people ask me what the format would be if that scenario ever popped up. So there you go. By the way, the last tie-breaker game was between Prince Albert and Edmonton in 2009. The Oil Kings won that game in overtime and then went on to lose four straight to Calgary in the first round.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes will close out this B.C. road swing Saturday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna. For both teams, this will be their third game in four nights. Lethbridge won the only other meeting between the two teams back at the ENMAX Centre a few months ago. Game time is 8:00 pm (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:30. The Hurricanes return home next week to play one of their three remaining regular season games at the ENMAX Centre when they host the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.
Thanks,
Pat
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Nice win boys! Do it again tonight!
ReplyDeletePat, just heard Tot is done for the season. What a loss that would be. The kid just barely got back from his last concussion. Are you able to elaborate?
ReplyDeleteI haven't talked with the trainer yet this morning to confirm that. He took a big hit. It wasn't dirty, just a big hit. He hit his head and was down. Given that would be the second concussion in a few months that's not good. I hope to get more from the coaching staff in few hours. Real tough break for Tot no question.
ReplyDeleteA lot of us are curious as to the play of Kuvaev. Yes he did score and Pat said, "it was nice to see him in the lineup". But how was his overall play? Offensively and defensively.
ReplyDeleteIf Kuvaev improved his skating and his endurance, and go to the net where he loves to score, then he would be a big asset to this team next season. But that is only something he can do.
With Tot out of the lineup, will Kuvaev get another game under his belt?
TM
Great win, and FANTASTIC third period! - Out-shooting opponent 12-6 and outscoring them 3-0!
ReplyDeleteI don't know how KUVAEV ended up on the ice scoring a goal 7+1/2 minutes into the game with Fyten and Braes also on the ice, but the next time that I heard his name mentioned on the broadcast was in the same sentence with Tarnasky. Does that sound about right? A little later in the game it sounded like he was creating some scoring chances, but it didn't sound like he was playing with the top line.
So coach, (injury forces your hand or whatever), to give your favorite water-boy, Kuvaev, a rare shift in a rare game and he somehow ends up on the ice with the top line... and he scores... So... Why not leave him there and put Sutter with your other stud, M. Maxwell, who has been AWESOME, but needs some finishing skill on the right side??!!
This entire year, watching or listening to Hurricanes hockey is like logic deprivation therapy! Oh well, you got er done anyway. Good for the TEAM! (But I am definitely going to need some kind of medication). - Richie.
Listening to the Rocket game tonight. Throw the Ogeepogee on the ICE, ATTABOY Rich P. YOU, along with the players SHOULD throw the wood BENCH on the ice. Well done! Hopefully your message was loud and clear. UNACCEPTABLE Call by a LINESMAN! WHY THIS CALL? DID Sutter leave a corpse on the ice? WHat a JOKE!!! - Richie.
ReplyDelete... Is the linesman, by any chance related to KLEIN the narcissist?? You are the STAR of the WHL, KLEIN!! People come from three provinces away to see you perform! If the spear was bad enough to be called, the PLAY should have been STOPPED immediately!! With ALL the MISSED calls in the league every game, THIS call is made? Where was the corpse? The Lethbridge Hurricanes NEED to make sure that this Cirque-du-Klein gets into the Major Junior Hockey Hall of FAME!
ReplyDeleteLets award referee KLEIN with the Order of Canada, give him an honorary doctorate, KNIGHT him, just get him out of the WHL already! Lets rename our Family Day to Klein-Day, not for Ralph, but for our OTHER, most famous Albertan! - Nice work!
What a flipping joke. The WHL should be embarrassed with what took place tonight. Good on Preston for showing lots of emotion. I have never seen such a ludacris call in my life. The goal Sutter scored and was called back would have made the game change completely, the terrible call cost the Canes the game.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joke that ref cost us the game and the hole mess thats where it all started was with that call.you bet this will get headlines all over news and sports but really the dub needs give there heads a shake.
ReplyDeleteIf I was as bad at my job for a single shift as the officials in the Hurricanes-Rockets game, I would be looking for a new job tomorrow. Yet I expect that the officials will not be fined or that there will be any consequences for them of any kind. How does it work in the WHL? First 4 guys at the rink with skates and black pants get to ref?
ReplyDelete