Hitmen Hammer Hurricanes 9-0

CALGARY - The Calgary Hitmen scored six times in the third period as they hammered the struggling Lethbridge Hurricanes 9-0 Saturday night.

A slow start in the opening few minutes of this game for Lethbridge, but the Canes certainly picked up the pace as the period moved along.  Ty Rimmer came up with several key saves for Lethbridge, while Chris Driedger was tested a few times as well.  Both goalies managed to keep their opponents off the scoresheet in the opening 20 minutes.  The Hurricanes out shot Calgary 11-9.

In the second, the Hitmen would break the scoreless deadlock and blow the game open with 3 goals. Brooks Macek got things going when he picked off the puck on a Lethbridge giveaway and beat Ty Rimmer to make it 1-0 Hitmen early in the period.  Late in the period, Calgary would get two more when Cody Sylvester made it 2-0 and then with just over a minute remaining in the period, Victor Rask snapped a shot by a screened Ty Rimmer to make it 3-0 Hitmen after 40 minutes of play. Calgary held the edge in shots 23-16.

In the third, the Hitmen would keep the offence coming in a big way with 6 more goals.  Brooks Macek would score twice more to get the hatrick.  Pavlo Padakin also scored along with Cody Sylvester with his second of the evening along with a goal by Brady Brassart. All that would add up to a 9-0 lead for the Hitmen and that's the way the game would end.  The Hitmen went 3/4 on the power play and also scored a shorthanded goal.  Lethbridge went 0/6.  Calgary out shot the Hurricanes 44-22.

The loss drops the Canes record to 26-32-3-7 on the season.  Lethbridge has one victory in it's last 12 games and a record of 9 and 21 since play resumed after the Christmas break.  The Canes have been sut out 4 times in their last 8 games.

CANES CALL UP REID NEMETH

Another Hurricanes prospect suited up for Lethbridge on Saturday night.  Reid Nemeth was called up after his Calgary Royals team was eliminated from the AMHL playoffs. Nemeth had 5 goals and 12 assist in 34 games with th Royals this season.  He wore number 21.  Nemeth was selected by the Hurricanes in 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.
\NEXT UP

The Hurricanes are down to their final few games of the regular season now, all of which will be played next week with 4 games in 5 nights.  The Canes will take on the Kootenay ICE in back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday. These head-to-head games will no doubt be the determining factor on the Canes playoff chances. The Hurricanes will close out the regular season Friday at home against the Tigers and then game 72 Saturday night in Medicine Hat. Game time Tuesday from Cranbrook is 7:00 pm MDT.  The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.

Thanks,
Pat