LETHBRIDGE - A slow start proved to be costly as the Medicine Hat Tigers scored twice in the first period en route to a 5-1 win over the Hurricanes Saturday night at the ENMAX Centre.
The Medicine Hat Tigers, with a depleted line-up drew first blood in this game. Kellan Tochkin took the puck off the end boards and banked a shot by Brandon Anderson to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Tigers went into this game missing a number of key players: Wacey Hamilton, Linden Vey, Tyler Pitlick, and Cole Grbavac just to name a few. The Tigers weren't done there. Emerson Etem, off a 2-on-1 rush fired the puck by Anderson to give Medicine Hat 2-0 lead. The Canes' didn't register their first shot until the 13 minute mark of the first period. After being out shot 9-0 at one point in the game, the shots after one period favoured the Tigers 11-8 after Lethbridge managed to close the gap in that department and get a few good scoring chances in the final few minutes. Tyler Bunz came up with a couple of key saves for the Tigers.
In the second, another slow start for Lethbridge. The Tigers managed to jump into a 3-0 lead when Kellan Tochkin scored his second of the night to give Medicine Hat a comfortbale lead. That would be it for Brandon Anderson in goal. He was pulled in favour of Dylan Tait for the rest of the night. The Canes', like in the early part of the first period were unaable to generate much offence in the second. The Tigers didn't give Hurricanes much to work with. Medicine Hat held the shots through 40 minutes of play 25-15.
In the third, the Hurricanes would finally find their legs. Jacob Berglund knocked the puck out of mid-air and by Tyler Bunz early in the period to get Lethbridge on the board. That was the Swede's 18th goal of the season and cut the Tigers' lead to 3-1. The Hurricanes kept pressing and came close to get another. They pulled the goalie and with just over two minutes remaining in the game, but the Tigers would score into the empty goal to make 4-1, courtesy of Curtis Valk. Medicine Hat would end up getting one with a few seconds to go, this time on a power play. Patrik Parkkonen fired a point shot, beating Dylan Tait to make it 5-1 Tigers and that's the way this game would end. Medicine Hat out shot Lethbridge slightly 31-30. The Tigers went 1 for 4 on the power play and the Hurricanes finished the game 0 for 3.
The Hurricanes remain two points back of the Prince Albert Raiders with three games to go in the regular season for both teams. The Canes' were unable to gain any ground on P.A. Saturday. The Raiders lost 7-3 in Brandon. Lethbridge plays Edmonton and Kootenay twice to close out the regular season and the Raiders have Calgary and Swift Current two times to finish off.
Once again, the Hurricanes got off to a slow start in this game. That's kind of been their M.O. for the past five or six weeks. They were unable to take advantage of an injury-depleted Medicine Hat roster. Gotta give the Tigers some credit. With some key players out of the line-up, Medicine Hat played a very strong road game, especially in the first two periods. Max Ross missed Saturday's game against the Tigers. He was suspended by the WHL for a boarding major he was assessed in Calgary on Friday night. He was ejected from that game against Calgary. The length of the suspension is listed as "To Be Determined" on the league website.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes have three game remaining in their regular season. They're next action is set for Tuesday night in Edmonton against the Oil Kings. This will be the final meeting of the season between the two teams. The Hurricanes will close out the regular season Friday and Saturday next weekend with a home-and-away set with the Kootenay ICE.
Thanks,
Pat
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I dont like being negative but when PA keeps losing and pretty much telling the Canes to take their playoff spot and they dont come prepared to fight for the playoffs is garbage. And come on Cane fans what happened those tiger fans were every where and they were louder then the Canes fans I felt like were pl,aying in the Hat. Thats embarssing were so lucky were only 2 points back of PA for the playoffs. these last 3 are must wins matter what.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing....our best players were not our best players last night. Top line and M Maxwell were -2 and -3 and Reddington and Ryckmen -4 and Anderson was shakey...thought the 4th line had the most energy. Having said that we still had a chance to win in the third but Bunz was excellent. Need to put the game behind them and get ready for Edmonton...I agree with Brook that the atmosphere in the rink was brutal for what was essentially a playoff game for the fans...the team got no help for from the fans...come on Canes fans we want the team to step up so lets step it up as fans too and come out and help the team for the last home game!
ReplyDeleteTD
Say goodnight. The party's over!
ReplyDeleteParty is over?? Canes are in exactly the same position they were before the game started? This is Junior hockey anything can happen.
ReplyDeleteWishful thinking. Party IS definitely over.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of this time change. I want my hour back; and while I am at it, I would take the time spent watching the first two periods of this game back, also. NO Canes shots in the first ten minutes?? - BRUTAL! Apparently, the motivation to get to 2nd place is FAR greater than to make the playoffs?! Considering what was at stake, unbelievable lack of physical play and slow start by the Canes.
Moser and Tarnasky had by far the best scoring chances from the slot in the first and second periods from HARD work - but no puck-luck. Bunz was nothing special. His numbers are good because his team plays very well in front of him. He is poor at playing the puck behind the net, but we were never able to capitalize on his give-aways.
Anderson made a couple great saves to keep it at 2-0, then let through maybe his worst goal of the year in the most critical game of the year. Did Tait just earn a start in Edmonton? Hood looked more interested in locating his next spearing victim than playing any hockey.
Brandon delivered a blow to PA for us, and we lay an egg. PA should have clear sailing now. They play Calgary once, and swift twice. The only teams the Calgary Whippedmen have beat in their last 10 are Regina and Swift Current. The ONLY team the donkeys have defeated in their last 10 was Calgary. If we beat Edmonton on the Ides, PA could end up catching them for 7th place.
Pretty safe to say... Canes season is over. - Richie.
As much as 3 in 19 shots is not good(2 power play goals). 1 in 10 shots hardly is good enough to earn a start. Here is a concept maybe our forewards could at least try to get more than one goal a night, and the rest of the team stay out of the box.
ReplyDeleteLUD
FAT WOMAN SANG..THE TOWELS THROWN ..THE PARTYS OVER AT LEAST TICKETS ARE CHEAP NEXT YEAR
ReplyDeleteK.T.
I thought it was a thrilling game, especially when Cathloic Central's point guard fouled out with the game tied late . . .
ReplyDeleteSorry, wrong blog.
-- Dylan
P.S. Did you see what season tickets cost in Brandon? $325 for an adult ticket, and that's no sale.
Actually, 2:52 pm poster, Tait only let in 1 goal. That was the one in the last minute. Anderson got pulled after the 3rd goal, and the 4th was an empty-netter.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only person that is wondering if Preston is asleep at the switch? It did not take a hockey expert to figure out that the Moser/Tarnasky/Ramsay line was by far the most energetic line in a very lethargic first/second period. It did not take a hockey expert to figure out that the Moser/Ramsay/Tarnasky line created the first very good scoring chances; and that the same 4th line brought energy into the comatose crowd and thus life back into the game. Why did Preston not reward that line with more play, and reduce the playing time of the so-called big line who were all minus on the evening. This is not the pro-ranks. These are kids, reward them for their good play and let them know by your playing them that you have noticed it. Human nature being what it is....rewarding players for good play will reap further rewards. Relying on one group of players will reap the kind of reactions a team does not need.
ReplyDeletePlayoff guarantee is done!
Let's hope for the benefit of this club next season, that everyone has learned from it and will take the steps to improve on a much greater basis than the 3 more win improvement this year.
Trouble is...we are going to be young again next season.
TM
richie, bunz is very good.do you actually watch the games?
ReplyDelete6:21 that is what I said and the score was 5-1. Anderson 3 goals 19 shots on net Tait 1 goal 10 shots on net and a empty net goal. Still say 1 in 10 doesn't earn a start. With that being said. I don't think it matters who starts.
ReplyDeleteLUD