Hurricanes Eliminated From Playoff Contention

CRANBROOK, BC - The Kootenay ICE ended any playoff chances for the Lethbridge Hurricanes with a 3-1 victory over the struggling Canes Tuesday night.

It was exactly the start the Lethbridge Hurricanes were hoping for in a must-win game on the road.  Just over 5 minutes into the first period, Tyler Wong batted home a rebound past Kootenay goalie Mackenzie Skapski to give the Canes an early 1-0 lead.  Before the end of the period, the ICE would even the score. Jaedon Descheneau made a pretty move on the Hurricanes defence and popped home his 28th goal of the season over the blocker of Ty Rimmer to even the score at 1-1.  That's the way the period would end.  Lethbridge held a slight edge in shots 13-12.
In the second, the ICE would grab an early lead. The Canes got caught with a bad defensive giveaway in their own end and Kootenay made them pay when Brock Montgomery scored to give the ICE a 2-1 lead.  A few minutes late Kootenay would get one more when Sam Reinhart notched one on the power play to give the home team a 3-1 lead after two periods of play.  Kootenay held the edge in shots at 28-22.

In the third, neither team was able to do much of anything.  The Hurricanes could only drum up 3 shots on goal in the final 20 minutes and that certainly wasn't nearly enough of a push.  The ICE would skate away with a 3-1 victory.  Kootenay out shot Lethbridge 37-25. The ICE went 1/5 on the power play and Lethbridge 0/3.

Assistant Coach Chisamore said on the CJOC post-game show: "We weren't good enough down the stretch.  We couldn't score or get wins when we needed.  Other teams were winning and we weren't."

The loss officially eliminated the Hurricanes from playoff contention. With only 6 potential points left this season, the Canes are 8 points back of Kootenay.  The ICE clinch a playoff position for the 15th consecutive year. The loss drops the Hurricanes overall record to 26-33-3-7.  The have just one win their last 13 games. 

FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT

The 2012-2013 team poster will be handed out before the game. Don’t forget to stop by the souvenir shop for discounts at the store as well as autographed jerseys and hockey cards. Be sure and stay after the game and visit the players who will be up on the concourse signing autographs after the game.

YAKUBOWSKI INJURED

Jaimen Yakubowski is out for a while. The Hurricanes leading goal scorer suffered a concussion in Red Deer last week, never played the next night in Calgary and likely will not ply the final 3 games of the regular season either.

NEXT UP

The Hurricanes are back home for their final two regular season home games. They play host to Kootenay Wednesday (Mar. 13) in the back half of this home-and-home set.  Game time is 7:00 pm MDT.  The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.  It's also fan appreciation night at the ENMAX Centre.

Thanks
Pat