LETHBRIDGE - The Calgary Hitmen were heavily out shot and out played, but they managed to steal two points with a 3-2 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes Tuesday at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes were all over the Calgary Hitmen for nearly the entire first period of play and had several great scoring chances, but were unable to get the puck by Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger. with just over a minute to go in the period Greg chase picked up the puck, faked the forehand shot and slid a backhander past Ty Rimmer to give Calgary the lead. The Hitmen would hold that 1-0 advantage after 20 minutes. The shots favoured Lethbridge 17-6.
In the second, the Hurricanes would tie things up early. Jay Merkley unloaded with a big snapshot, putting the puck over the glove of Driedger and in for his 12th goal of the season. That evened the game at 1-1. As bad as the Hitmen were being out played and out shot, they would retake the lead when Alex Roach snapped a shot by Rimmer to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Despite heavily out shooting Calgary 32-10, the Canes found themselves trailing by one goal through 40 minutes of play.
In the third, the Hurricanes would score a power play goal to get to with one when Ryan Pilon ripped a point shot through a crowd, beating Driedger to cut the Calgary lead to 3-2. That was Pilon's 3rd goal of the season. The Hurricanes would continue to press to try and get the tying goal, but that's as close as they would get as the Hitmen would hold on for a 3-2 victory, handing Lethbridge it's 3rd straight loss. The loss drops the Canes record to 13-11-1-1 on the season. The Hurricanes went 1/8 on the power play and Calgary finished the night 0/3. Calgary increases it's lead by 5 points on the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes will play the second half of this home-and-home series with the Hitmen Wednesday night (Nov. 21) when they travel to the Saddledome in Calgary. Game time is 7:00 PM (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30. This will be the first of 6 straight games on the road for Lethbridge. They travel to Red Deer Friday (Nov. 23). Next week the Hurricanes will play in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Medicine Hat, and Edmonton to close out November and open the December portion of their schedule.
Thanks,
Pat
The views expressed on this blog are those of the moderator and contributors and are not endorsed by 94.1 CJOC or the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Heck of an effort last night. No shortage of pressure and scoring opportunities. Finishing continues to be an issue. Canes need one or too more forwards to complement what they have. I know it sounds like a broken record but I dont understand why Preston won't or can't make a move. Canes Management just does not have the killer instinct to win like the top teams in the league do like Portland, Kamloops, Calgary, Edmonton who have brought in new additions to make their good teams teams even better. Need to keep it going tonight. Scott
ReplyDeleteI've been talking about adding an experienced/bigger forward LONG before Hood got hurt. With Hood now hurt, it's extremely apparent the Canes are VERY small and don't have much experience up front (or at back for that matter). They don't have a lot of depth. Hence the lack of scoring.
ReplyDeleteIt's ok to continue down this path (season) without addressing the depth situation, but then fans shouldn't expect a playoff berth either. Not saying they won't make the playoffs, but they become much tougher to make if the lack of depth at forward isn't addressed.
Darren
Finding the net was the issue last night. With a couple of natural goal scorers this game would not have been close. I too echo the thoughts of the previous posters and have also said that the Canes need 1 or 2 big, fast goal scorers in the 18-19yr old age bracket. We currently have but 2 19yr olds playing for us (Ramsay & Blomquist) and are without Hood (who we miss). Preston needs to make the deals that will bring scoring and size to this team if they intend in staying in the playoff race and in the top 5.
ReplyDeleteAxel Blomquist has become a liability..his moves are predictable, he is very slow, and he has no strength with the puck. Harper is not much better.
There are teams that will be out of the picture by Christmas, Preston has the assests and thus should make at least one/two moves.
I do not think it is a lack of killer instinct, but more of the sense that 13 of his players are 18 and under and this is not a year to compete for the top spot. Playoffs for sure. The teams mentioned plus Saskatoon are all expected to be at the top, thus the additions made to strengthen their run. Canes are not there yet......yet!
RJ
I kee p hearing about our forwards lack os size...what part of last night had anything to do with big forwards? Our "little" guys were making the "big" Calgary defensemen look slow and useless. And don't tell me that Mckechnie, Maxwell, and Ramsey weren't killing Calgary with their speed and intensity. The "finish" thing is just experience, and I am of the firm belief that if they play their kind of puck possesion, intensity and speed game, coupled with timely goaltending, the Hurricanes can literally beat anyone, any night.
ReplyDeleteChuck