Sunday 28 December 2014

Canes Win Third Straight, 6-5 Over Tigers

Zane Jones and Jamal Watson each scored twice as the Lethbridge Hurricanes beat the rival Medicine Hat Tigers 6-5 Saturday night at the ENMAX Centre.

It was the third win in four games under new Head Coach Peter Anholt. It was also the Canes third straight win, something this team hasn't done since October 21, 24, and 25. Sunday evening (Dec. 28) the Hurricanes will try and make it four wins in a row. That's a feat the club hasn't accomplished since November of 2012.

It was a wild first game back from the WHL's annual Christmas break and once again Stuart Skinner was, in the end the difference for Lethbridge in goal. It was a slow start for Lethbridge though in this one. Just 1:20 into the hockey game, Anthony Ast scored to give Medicine Hat a quick 1-0 lead. Just past the midway point in the period, the home side would even the score, thanks to a goal from Miles Warkentine. That was his first of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Just over a minute later, Tommy Vannelli gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead and that's the way the period ended.

In the second, Lethbridge exploded for three straight goals. Jamal Watson scored his 14th of the season at 6:23 to tie the game at 2-2. Just over six minutes later, Giorgio Estephan potted his 3rd goal of the year to give Lethbridge a 3-2 lead. Then before the end of the period, the Canes jumped ahead by a pair when Zane Jones scored on the power play to make it 4-2 Lethbridge after 40 minutes of play.

In the third, the Tigers would get those two goals back in short order. Alex Mowbray scored twice in the first 5:30 of the period and just like that the game was even at 4-4. Lethbridge regained the lead in what was a sea-saw battle all night long. Jamal Watson put home his second of the game and 15th of the season at the 12:00 mark to make it 5-4 Canes. Late in the period, Medicine Hat evened the game again with a power play goal courtesy of Kyle Becker. That tied the game at 5-5, but with less than 90 seconds to go, Zane Jones scored what turned out to be the game winner, getting his second of the night and 17th of the season to make it 6-5 Lethbridge and that's the way this game would end.

The Tigers kept Stuart Skinner busy, out shooting Lethbridge 47-37 on the night.  The Canes went 2/4 on the power play and the Tigers 1/3. The victory improves the Canes overall record to 9-20-3-2 as they approach the halfway point in the season which officially hit for the club this coming week. The Hurricanes and Tigers play again Sunday night (Dec. 28) this time in Medicine Hat.

Thanks,
Pat

3 comments:

  1. WOW! Santa really came through for the Hurricanes! So happy for the lads.

    Anybody still think that coaching doesn't play a huge role in this game? You can throw around terms like Culture Change, Accountability, Systems, Shot Tracking, blah blah blah; in the end, if all you do is wear an expensive suit and rely on smoke and mirrors, then all you are going to do is continue to get smoked until you look in the mirror... and set franchise-worst records in the process.

    Still ticked off that DB took NO responsibility for the pathetic team performance, and that he left with a bundle of organization's money that he did not deserve, but at least he is finally gone.

    Apparently you CAN have some immediate success when the leader actually has a clue. How long has it been since the Canes won three in a row? DB?

    Jones' two goals were two peaches... and I love the dedication to Skinner as they celebrated the game's final marker.

    Always nice to see the folks from Medicine Hat leave town, but especially great to see them go home with their arms hanging down to help hide the smell. You have just lost (in regulation :) to the team with the secord worst record in the league... despite the team's sixteen year old tender having his worst game as a Hurricane; .... Enjoy the rest of your night! (Maybe the Canes will give Robidoux a chance to hand his former club and the City of Flatulence another loss before saying goodbye to 2014)

    Where is Lenny Hackman?

    "You will see fast paced competitive hockey every night...You just have to wait until I am fired to see any of it from the home team."

    Money for Nothing

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  2. Comments like MfN's make it real enjoyable when our Tigers pound the Canes like they did tonight. Of course the only good thing coming out of "the Windy City" for some time now is hot air coming from the likes of you. Even a blind pig finds a cob of corn occasionally, thus the win Saturday night.

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    1. Your time will come longtimefan. At least we have a respectable building. Your rink is an embarrassment to the league.

      By the way, when was the last time the Tigers were in a WHL final? Oh, that's right.......prior to 2007 when the Canes were in one. Let me look it up.........sorry, can't find the last freaking time the Tigers were even close to a WHL Final.

      LaRon

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