Wednesday 17 October 2012

Six Different Scorers as Canes Beat Wheaties 6-1

LETHBRIDGE - A three goal first period powered the Lethbridge Hurricanes to a convicing 6-1 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings Wednesday night at the ENMAX Centre.

The Brandon Wheat Kings opened the scoring less than 5 minutes into the game.  After Macoy Erkamps laid a big hit on Alessio Bertaggia, the Wheat Kings broke away on a two-on-one and Jayce Hawryluk snapped home the puck over Ty Rimmer to give the Wheaties a 1-0 lead.  After that, the Hurricanes took over the rest of the period.  Just 50 seconds later, Jay Merkley scored his second of the season to tie the game at 1-1.  The Hurricanes would add another not too long after that when Jaimen Yakubowski notched his 4th of the season to make it 2-1 Lethbridge.  Before the end of the period, the Hurricanes would jump ahead 3-1 with Brady Ramsay's 2nd of the year.  That finished off a outstanding period for the Canes who pounded 23 shots at Wheaties' goalie Curtis Honey.  No question, the Hurricanes best period of hockey so far this season.  The Canes out shot the Wheat Kings 23-8.

In the second, the Canes would keep it coming with a few more power play goals.  This time Macoy Erkamps would find the back of the net for his 1st of the season. That made it 4-1 Hurricanes and then before the end of the period Lethbridge ended up getting yet another power play goal on a 5-on-3 advantage when Dan Johnston, the birthday boy hammered a point shot by Curtis Honey to make it 5-1 Canes.  Lethbridge had scored 3 power play goals on 5 opportunities to this point in the game.  The Canes continued to hammer pucks at the Brandon goal as they out shot the Wheaties 36-20 after two periods.

In the third, the Hurricanes would add one more when Russ Maxwell stole the puck at his own blueline and moved in on a breakaway and scored his team-leading 6th goal of the season to give the home side a 6-1 lead and that's the way the game would end.  There wasn't much defence in this game as the Canes out shot the Wheaties 46-36.  The Hurricanes were very good on the power play going 3/6.  Brandon went 0/3.  The victory improves the Hurricanes record to 4-6 on the season.

The Hurricanes saw the return of Brady Ramsay to the line-up in this game.  Ramsay had missed the last two weeks after being given a 5 game suspension after an incident September 29th in Kootenay.  He has one goal in 5 games played so far this season.  He made a huge impact in this game with a goal and two assists and was named the game's first star.

The Canes clearly played their best game of the season in this one and with six different goal scorers, it was nice to see the offence spread around.  A lot of bests in this game.  Their best period of hockey this season in the first, best game of the year for Erkamps and Hood.  The Hurricanes also got goals from six different players which was a real positive. 


NEXT UP

The Hurricanes will take on the best team in the Western Hockey League on Friday (Oct. 19) when the Kamloops Blazers come town.  The Blazers are not only at top of the WHL, but are the number one ranked team right now in the entire CHL.  The Blazers are also the highest scoring team in the league and have allowed the least goals against.  It'll certainly be a big test for the Canes.  Game time is 7:00 pm (MDT).  The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30. Lethbridge will welcome the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday.  Next week the Canes hit the road for games Tuesday (Oct. 23) in Swift Current and Wednesday (Oct. 24) in Moose Jaw. They'll return home after that for the start of another 6 game home stand when Regina and Swift Current come to town October 26th & 27th.

Thanks,
Pat

11 comments:

  1. Great game. If they even gave half of tonight's game effort into every game they play I would be a happy fan.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That was some good hockey tonight. Way to go Hurricanes.

    -cc

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great game tonight, keep it up and let's give Kamloops their first loss Friday nite!!

    And Jamal, keep generating those breakaways, you'll soon get a lot of multi-goal games!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great 60 minute team effort by the Canes. They had a lot of energy throughout the game. It was clear early that Ramsey being back created a lot of spark offensively and helped Hood out a lot. For the first time I have seen this year the Canes used all 5 players in the offensive zone and got a lot of shots from the point. They were not predictable. 3/6 on PP is great result. Great job all around. Scott

    ReplyDelete
  5. A great win for the team. That was another game that shows how this team needs to play with there speed and because of the lack of size. Speed through the neutral zone and constant pressure on the puck. If this team can figure out that they can win with or without a good coach they may make the playoffs. Know matter how much I dislike tbese coaches it is still the guys on the ice that win or lose games most of the time. Hood still looks disinterested even if this was his best game. It looks like he is playing pond hockey with a bunch of buddies. Again last night Rimmer gets run over and Hood does nothing. Maybe we just need to realize after 3 years that is how he plays. Once again great game and lets see this hard work and hustle on Friday night or we maybe in for a long night. AJ

    ReplyDelete
  6. AJ, my beef with Hood is not that he is not fighting. This team cannot take instigating penalties and need PP's. Pretty sure we scored on the resulting PP that was on Rimmer. Hood just isnt involved and using his size. He looked better last night because Ramsey was back and picked up the line. He picked up a PP assist and was -1 in a 6-1 game and was hardest working player?. In 10 games he is 0 goals 5 assists 9 Pims and -2. The media is doing all they can to pump his tires because he is Captain. Johnston a D man of all things, in 7 games has 2 goals 3 assists 5 points 22 pims and even playing way more minutes on a team which is -8 in goals for vs against. Havings said that Hood is playing like he has played for the last two years, like a second or third line forward, he just happens to be captain this year. His choice as Captain reflects the whole attitude of the Canes organization...mediocrity vs excellence is perfectly acceptable. Scott

    ReplyDelete
  7. I agree with both AJ and Scott...the incident at the end of the 2nd sums it up for Hood. Rimmer is slashed twice covering the puck and Maxwell is tossed by the same Brandon player. What does Hood do? Gives the kid a soft bear hug...that is inexcusable and a lapse in leadership, especially as pound for pound the biggest player on the team.

    ReplyDelete
  8. How the *$&# did referee KIRK see fit to give JOHNSTON 2 and 10 immediately after taking a Wheat King's stick in the mouth?? (after Ramsay's PP goal at 15:43 of the first period) KIRK was RIGHT THERE,...pointing at the net for the goal, and yet somehow was more concerned with what Johnston may have SAID, than he was with the stick Johnson took to the chops??

    The players played great, they worked so hard, and they skated circles around the big and slow BWK defence.

    I would have given Rimmer a star for stopping all but one of Brandon's 36 shots.... 36!! BWK had a lot of deflections and many good chances that he was always well positioned for. A few huge saves at times that could have seriously changed the momentum and outcome of this one!

    As much as I would love to see Hood score more, I thought he had a good game. He was more physical as he needs to be, and I think he took a lot more shots than he usually does... which was great to see. He MUST be leading the team on the bus, in practice, in the dressing room, and on the bench, because even though he has NO goals, the Canes are just getting going, and yet he is still on pace for the SAME NUMBER OF POINTS as he had last year with his assists!!

    The best part of Hood's on ice contribution so far is that his PIMS are on pace for HALF of last year totals.... and if that is the way he is leading on the ice, with assists and better discipline, and 6-1 is the result... WAY TO GO, CAPTAIN-HOOD!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ramsay and Maxwell are the offensive leaders of this team (for now). But IMHO, it is just a matter of time before Duke, Watson, Laurencelle and Wong (when he gets back) begin to find the net on a regular basis. Axel is one goal away from getting a bunch.

    It was a solid 60 minutes from the Hurricanes. Brandon could not handle our speed and constant pressure. Good win to help build confidence for this team.

    Hockey gods did not do this for the Hurricanes (Chris Chissamore's wish) it was hard work.

    Couple of things to keep in mind, this was Brandon's 2nd game in two nights and they were coming of a gut wrenching game in the Hat, where they came from behind 2 goal deficites 3 times to win the game. Also they played their backup goaltender.

    All in all, a good win for the boys. Ramsay is playing much more aggressive and confident than last year.

    Big test Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Duke isn't getting the chances like I had hoped he would and I'm not sure how you can say that about Wong when he only has one or two games under his belt in his first year.

    I'm also unsure why Watson can't seem to find the net when he's standing right in front of it?!!

    As you say, big test Friday! I'm going to the game, so Go Canes!

    Darren

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can say that about Wong, because he has shown the skill and mind set to go into the "greasy" areas in the pre-season and few regular season games he has played.

    As for Watson, maybe it is nerves that set in and he gets cement hands. But at least with his speed he is creating chances. Chances eventually change to goals.

    Rimmer will have to stand tall tonight and the team will have to keep things very simple for 60 minutes.

    It would be nice to knock off the only unbeaten team in the league.

    ReplyDelete