Wednesday 31 December 2014

Hitmen Hammer Hurricanes 9-2

Pavel Karnaukhov scored three times as the Calgary Hitmen routed the Lethbridge Hurricanes 9-2 Tuesday night at the Saddledome.

It's second time this season the Hitmen have defeated the Canes by that same score in Calgary.

Stuart Skinner played the entire game between the pipes for the Hurricanes in this game. The Hitmen opened the scoring with three goals in the first period of play. Jordy Stallard got things going at the 6:05 mark to make it 1-0. Then a power play goal from Pavel Karnaukhov put the Hitmen ahead 2-0. Late in the period Connor Rankin scored the first of two goals on the night to put the home side ahead 3-0. The Hurricanes got one of those goals back late in the period, when Tyler Wong put home his 13th of the season to cut the Calgary lead to 3-1 after 20 minutes of play.

In the second, Calgary kept the offence coming. Connor Rankin scored his second of the night, this one a shorthanded goal at 3:06 to make it 4-1 Calgary. A few minutes later, Chase Lang scored on the power play to increase the lead to 5-1. Late in the period the Hitmen scored twice more in a span of under one minute. Pavel Karnaukhov scored his second of the game to make it 6-1 and then seconds later Terrell Draude beat Stuart Skinner and just like that the Hitmen took a commanding 7-1 lead. Lethbridge did get one more goal late in the period when Jaeger White scored his 4th of the season with less than a minute remaining in the period to cut the lead to 7-2 through 40 minutes of play.

In the third, Calgary added two more goals. Adam Tambellini score at 13:24 and the with less than a minute remaining, Pavel Karnaukhov scored his hatrick goal and that would be it. Calgary would win big, 9-2. The Hitmen out shot Lethbridge 43-24 on the night. Calgary went 2/5 on the power play and the Hurricanes 0/6.

The Hurricanes are now officially at the halfway point in the season. Through 36 games, the club's record sits at 9-22-3-2. The Hurricanes record at this same time last year was 5-26-2-3. The Canes have a very busy January with 13 games: 9 at home and 4 on the road. They open 2015 Friday (Jan. 2) on the road in Edmonton and then return home Saturday (Jan. 3) to host the Red Deer Rebels.

The Western Hockey League's trade deadline is also just over a week away. Don't be surprised if the club is active leading up to and on January 10th. Given the Canes current record and where they sit in the standings, it wouldn't shock me in the least to see Head Coach and GM Peter Anholt make a few more moves to get younger, bigger and focus on the future. Time will tell I suppose, but I think a few deals are almost certain.

Thanks,
Pat


6 comments:

  1. I would imagine that the Hurricane organization, players shareholders and fans are glad to see the end of 2014. However, 2015 could be a very eventful year. Unfortunately the events will not include a winning season, a berth in the playoffs or a balanced budget. The trading deadline could see player movement likely Jones, Walters, possibly Watson and the trading of the rights to Bellerive. What looms large will be the fate of the ownership of this franchise. This month (deadline from WHL) could see a major development for all concerned with and about the Hurricanes.

    RJS

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  2. I missed something?? What deadline??

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  3. Anon 19:15. Each year in the CHL and thus the WHL there is a trading deadline. Up until the deadline teams are free to trade players and it is usually the "buyers" who go after players they could use from the teams that are "sellers". Since the Hurricanes will not be in the playoffs this season, they will be sellers and other teams may try and deal for players that they think will help them in their respective playoff runs. That trading deadline is Friday January 9th.

    Hope that helps.
    RJS

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  4. RJS: Wasn't talking about the trading deadline. The other reference by you to a deadline by the WHL. Last paragraph of you first post. What deadline

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  5. Anon 8:51, Sorry for the confusion. That deadline is sort of an implied deadline by WHL commissioner Rob Robison who has basically stated that hopefully the shareholders will meet and vote on the possibility of putting the team up for sale, prior to the WHL Board of Governors meeting the first week of February, so that the B.O.G will have an idea of what direction the franchise is taking.

    RJS

    ReplyDelete