LETHBRIDGE - The Lethbridge Hurricanes erased a two goal first deficit and came back and beat the Calgary Hitmen 6-4 Friday night in front of just over 5100 fans at the ENMAX Centre.
The Calgary Hitmen would get the ball rolling in this game. Just over 3 minutes in, the Canes would take back-to-back penalties on the same play, sending Calgary on a 5-on-3 power play for two straight minutes. It only took 17 seconds for Calgary to take advantage of it. Victor Rask fired a shot beating Ty Rimmer, giving Calgary an early 1-0 lead. The Hitmen would get one more before the end of the period when Cody Sylvester snapped one by Rimmer to put the visitors ahead 2-0 after 20 minutes.
In the second, the Canes would hit the scoreboard for the first time. A bad pass by the Hitmen in their own zone was picked off by Macoy Erkamps. He walked in untouched and fired a lazer beam by Chris Driedger to cut the Calgary to 2-1. That was Erkamps' 4th goal of the season. The Canes would keep pressing and with 5 minutes left in the period the Canes would tie the game. Another bad giveaway by Calgary, this time at the Lethbridge blueline, send Jamal Watson in all along on a breakaway and he would score his 12of the season to even the scoer at 2-2. In the final minute of the period, the Canes would take the lead for the first time with a power play. Axel Blomqvist muscled his way out in front on the Calgary goal and snapped home his 5th of the season to give Lethbridge a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes. The shots were 25-24 Calgary.
In the third, the Canes would make good on a 5-on-3 power play of their own. Ryan Pilon's point shot was deflected by Jaimen Yakubowski for his team-leading 27th of the season gave Lethbridge a 4-2 lead. The Canes weren't done there. Out of the penalty box, Josh Derko picked up the puck and skated in, blasting a shot by Driedger to give Lehbridge a 5-2 lead It was Derko's first goal in his first game as a Lethbridge Hurricane. It looked like that would be it, but Calgary staged a late rally to make it an interesting finish. Cody Sylvester would score his second of the night on the power play and then two minutes late Greg Chase scored to cut the Lethbridge lead to 5-4 with about two minutes to go. The Canes were able to hold off Calgary and Mike Sofillas would notch his 3rd of the year into an empty net to ice the game and the Hurricanes would skate away with a 6-4 victory.
The win improves the Canes to 23-21-16 on the season for 53 points in 51 games, still tied with Swift Current for 5th place in the Eastern Conference. Calgary out shot Lethbridge 37-34. Both teams finished the night 2/6 on the power play.
MAXWELL, DERKO, & DUKE RETURN
The Hurricanes saw the return of three players who've been out with injury. Russ Maxwell, Reid Duke and Josh Derko all suited up for Lethbridge Friday night. It was Derko's first game as a Hurricane since being acquired from Swift Current at the trade deadline. Defenceman Dan Johnston remains sidelined with a shoulder injury and will likely be out for a couple of weeks yet.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes will play a key Central Division match-up against the Rebels in Red Deer Saturday (Jan. 26). This will be only the second time this season these teams meet, with four more games in the next 6 weeks. The Canes are 3 points back of Red Deer in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Game time is 7:30 pm MST. The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:00. The Hurricanes play a late afternoon game Sunday in Edmonton.
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.
A good effort from the boys tonight, I wish they wouldn't give the fans heart attacks by having to claw their way back into games and giving up late goals, but full marks for a hard-fought win.
ReplyDeleteTheir are still a few things, however, that are nagging problems with this group that I can't shake as being BIG problems:
-Giveaways, giveaways, giveaways. The last 10-15 games or so, the boys are showing an increasingly alarming habit of bad gieaways in their own end. They simply MUST play better in their own end if they want to string some wins together. To be fair, they did prey on some Calgary cough-ups also.
-Rimmer made some unbelievable stops tonight, but also gave up at least 2 (some might say 3) soft ones tonight. Again, is becoming an unwelcome habit
-I hope that Mr. Derko brings more to the team than just the ability to take stupid penalties? Cost us one goal for sure...
As an afterthought....does anyone else share my opinion that Calgary is, without a doubt, one of the dirtiest and cheapest teams in the league? Our boys (Well, most of them) showed remarkable composure after some of the crap that the Hitmen were dishing up.
Chuck
The effort, hitting and shot of Derko are nice additions. Few too many penalties but love the attitude he brings to the team. Need to roll 4 to win the rest this weekend. HLR
ReplyDeleteHLR: Preston can't roll four. The fans say they want that but when he does all hell breaks loose and the fans are p***ed off about it. Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteGreat win by the boys tonight.
-cc
Calgary certainly is the dirtiest team in the league!!! Williamson also like using intimidation to advance their team. Good effort by Erkamps and Pilon they started a lot of scoring chances from the point! Lets hope the carry the scoring on for the next two games! Rimmer has to tighten up and keep the cheap goals out.
ReplyDeleteI wish the WHL would get some consistency with the Refing. Calgary got away with a lot. Some real questionable calls out ther tonight
ReplyDeleteAnother solid effort by Erkamps. I don't understand why he doesn't get more recognition as a star on this team and in the WHL.
ReplyDeletePrior to and after Johnston went down with injury, he has been one of the best defensemen on the team. He plays the PP, PK and logs valuable minutes in crunch time yet rarely gets any positive press for his efforts.
Last year he was touted as the next star on this team but this year we hardly hear about his improved play and success. The numbers don't lie, he has improved in every category.
Yes I am a fan but would love to see the Canes in the playoffs first. It will be players like Erkamps who will be leading the way.
Good to hear the injured forwards get healthy and back into action for a big win!! Couldn't make the game and by the sounds of it, I may not have been able to even if I could! Great turnout for the game last night!
ReplyDeletecc....I don't think Preston gives a rat's patoot what the fans think. He rolls 4 lines when he has the confidence in the Wong line. When they show they are skating well and taking care of their own end properly, RP gives them more minutes. When they don't, he doesn't. Pretty simple. But it has nothing to do with the fans "wants".
I can't comment on the reffing last night, but it happens at every level. If anyone saw the Kings/Oilers game the other night, they'd know what I mean! (ie. making calls on marginal "too many men" and then letting obvious slashes/cross checks go. That's how any reffing team gets themselves in trouble, but it happens at all levels unfortunately.
Good luck tonight in RD Canes! (Someone said the game is televised on Shaw....for those of you who have Shaw).
Darren
Darren: I was being sarcastic. I am quite sure Preston doesn't actually take suggestions from the commenters on this blog. My point was that people wanted a team where he could roll four lines. When he did, people on here started belly-aching about it. Most people are only happy on here when they are complaining.
ReplyDeleteHoping the lads do well in Red Deer tonight. We will be watching and cheering them on.
-cc
Does anyone know any way for a non-shaw customer with internet access to watch/stream the Canes/Rebels SHAW broadcast tonight?
ReplyDeleteAnswered my own question... Don't know if it will continue, but the pre-game on WHL LIVE is SHAWS!! The feed is excellent, so as long as they don't switch to the usual Red Deer internal crap, anyone who wants to WATCH the SHAW broadcast, get WHL Live for $6!! (... and LISTEN to Pat... OF COURSE!!)
ReplyDelete