Friday 27 September 2013

ICE Beat Hurricanes 4-3 in a Shoot Out

CRANBROOK, BC -  The Lethbridge Hurricanes staged a big third period comeback, but it wasn't enough as they fell 4-3 to the Kootenay ICE in a shoot out Friday night.

Corbin Boes, making his first start in goal for the Hurricanes this season was extremely good in the first period of this game. Neither team was able to score in the opening 20 minutes. Kootenay out shot Lethbridge 17-8. The ICE also had 3 power plays, including a 5-on-3 for 1:12 which they were unable to score on.

In the second, the ICE kept coming at the Hurricanes. A point shot from Landon Peel beat a partially screened Corbin Boes to give Kootenay a 1-0 lead. About three minutes later the ICE would capitalize again. This time Sam Reinhart, who could be a potential first over NHL draft pick next year slapped the puck by Boes after a nifty little passing play to give Kootenay a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes. The ICE out shot the Canes 18-5 in the period and 35-13 through two periods.

In the third, que the comeback. The Canes got a pair of power play goals in short order to open the period, one by Josh Derko, his second of the season and shortly after Bryton Sayers would score his first-ever in the WHL to tie the game at 2-2. The ICE regained the lead after the media time out when Levi Cable scored a power play goal to give Kootenay a 3-2 lead. It looked like that's the way things would end, but the Canes red hot power play was given another chance late and with just over a minute remaining, Tyler Wong scored on the man advantage to tie the game at 3-3 and sent things into overtime. The extra session solved nothing so this game would go to a shoot out.

It certainly wasn't a goal scoring fest in the shoot out, far from it. No team was able to score through 6 rounds of the shoot out. Finally, Jaedon Descheneau was able to beat Corbin Boes for the only goal to give Kootenay a 4-3 victory. The Canes were out shot 47-32 in this game, but Corbin Boes was a big reason the Canes were able to charge back in this game. The Hurricanes went 3/4 on the power play, while Kootenay was 1/7. The Canes get a point and fall to 0-1-2 on the early season.

Il give Lethbridge a lot of credit. Things were looking bleak after two periods and they found a way to battle back with a few key guys not playing. Assistant Coach Mike Craig said on the post game show the decided to roll three lines going into the 3rd. He said the first power goal ignited the team and he was very swift to mention how well Boes played between the pipes. Craig said despite the loss they battles hard to come back and there are some really good things this team can use to build on now.

The Canes played in Cranbrook with a few regulars out of the line up. Reid Duke and Macoy Erkamps are still out with injury, Sam McKechnie was sick, Jamal Watson was a healthy scratch, and Chris Tai, sat this one out as Jonny Houge backed up Corbin Boes.

Still Waiting For Khenkel Decision

The deadline to hear back from the International Ice Hockey Federation regarding the status of defenceman Kristian Khenkel came and went on Friday with no word. GM Brad Robson had hoped to hear one way or the other by the end of the work week. Because of the weekend, we likely won't find out now until Monday. Khenkel is in Lethbridge, but hasn't been able to practice, skate, or workout with the Hurricanes since he hasn't been given his release from Belarus. Khenkel, who was born in Germany was chosen by Lethbridge in this past summer's CHL import draft, 20th overall. 

Next Up

The Hurricanes travel north for a game in the provincial capital on Sunday. This will be the first of 6 meetings between the Canes and the defending Eastern Conference champs.  The Hurricanes struggled playing in Edmonton past season and are hoping for better results this year. Game time from Rexall Place is 4:00 pm MDT. The pregame show on CJOC at 3:30. The Canes return home next week for games Wednesday (Oct. 2) versus Calgary and Saturday (Oct. 5) against visiting Seattle. 

Thanks,
Patk

4 comments:

  1. Very nice comeback by the Canes!!

    I remember Robson saying on the Monday night show that one of the two winless teams was going to win on Friday in Kootenay, and I believe it was.... "it had better be us."... Nope.

    The Canes coaching staff needs to get to know their team better. No offence to Pilon and Derko, love 'em BOTH, but they are not going to give you your best chance at a goal IN A SHOOTOUT, coach!

    This teams' highly skilled scoring studs are Estephan, Olynek, Maxwell, Yakubowski (& Duke of course, when playing). Especially in a shootout, GOT to go with the little guys with skill, not your young stud DEFENSEMAN! Maxwell especially, our leading scorer last year, give him the nod before your stay-at-home defenseman!! ??

    Hurricane Instigator

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  2. I remember last year during shoot outs that we did not fair all that well either. Maxwell may have been the leading scorer but his shoot out record was not great. I think it was good goaltending this time!

    We can not spot teams two periods and expect to win.

    An Observer

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  3. Nice comeback for a single. I have to give this staff credit for the adjustment made in the third to go down to three lines and get the kids in a rhythm. Happy Mike came on the post game show. Boes play will be good for a min of 30 points and well worth the trade since we never drafted a tender high until this draft.
    I also believe/hope that this staff will learn you can’t win without talent but this is a process not only for the players but for the new gm and new staff.
    My prediction after a few games - A sixth place playoff team that continually improves throughout the season and the conditioning will pay off.
    Long Run

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  4. Like most fans I was excited (still am) with the all the changes of the management and coaching staff. But expecting the team to come out of the gate like a house o n fire was rather optimistic. There had to be adjustments especially by the players to the new coaching staff. New systems, new expectations, new discipline both off and on the ice. In the 3 games that the Canes have played, it is obvious that some of the key vets are having troubles accepting the new expectations. Almost invisible is the play of Yakubowski, Maxwell, Blomquist, and to a lesser light, Watson. The first three mentioned have not played up to their abilities. Maybe, just maybe it is due to what they have been exposed to over the last 3 seasons. Complete lack of structure on and off the ice, and possibly the "right of entitlement" for those players. They are all capable of very good things, but like the coaches, they need to adjust as well. Afterall, it will benefit them in the long run as they have not had top notch coaching like this in their WHL careers. In fairness to the team's record, they are missing the likes of Duke, Erkamps, McKechnie and a 100% healthy Pilon. Power play 3/4, Penalty Kill 6/7 including a 1:12 long two man disadvantage. Special teams are clicking. Time now for the 5 on 5 play to improve big time.

    Trade looming? I would not count in out with the way some of the vets are responding.

    Dump'n Chase

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