The Canes left for B.C. a week ago riding high on a ten game winning streak and came home on a three game losing skid. The latest loss coming Tuesday night, 2-1 in Kelowna.
The loss drops the Hurricanes overall record to 36-15 on the season and for the first time in several weeks, it knocks the Canes out of first place in the WHL standings. With that win, the Rockets leapfrog Lethbridge by one point for top spot in the league.
This was actually a very close game from start to finish, both on the scoreboard and the shot clock.
The Rockets opened the scoring in this game. Tomas Soustal scored his first of two on the night, beating goaltender Stuart Skinner 7:40 into the first period to give Kelowna a 1-0 lead through one periods of play.
After a scoreless second period, the Rockets would add to their lead in the third, when Soustal scored his second of the game early in the final frame to make it a 2-0 lead in favour of the home team. Less than two minutes later though, the Hurricanes got that one back. Jordy Bellerive with his 4th of the season cut the Rockets lead to 2-1. Still with about 16:00 to go in the period, the Hurricanes pushed for the tying goal, but it wasn't in the cards. Kelwona would skate away with a 2-1 victory.
Both teams finished the game 0/2 on the power play. Lethbridge slightly out shot Kelowna 31-29 on the night.
It was a costly loss for the Hurricanes as well as they lost forward Giorgio Estephan for 3 to 6 weeks with a lower body injury. The team updated his status on Twitter Wednesday.
The Hurricanes return home Friday (Feb. 5) to host the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. They'll travel to Cranbrook Saturday (Feb. 6) to play the struggling Kootenay ICE.
Thanks,
Pat
uh ohhhh ... Bye Bye Giorgio....
ReplyDeleteBye Bye CHL top 10
In my opinion, appeared to be the best effort of the road trip by the Canes who blew more Grade A scoring chances in the final 2 periods of this Kelowna game than they had in the entire games in Victoria and Vancouver combined.
Speaking of blown scoring chances. For a decent size guy, Kroeker is not hitting or playing nearly physical enough. He cost a pretty high price (third round bantam pick). He is getting a lot of ice time with good players on a good team, and with all his speed and chances that he has had in the 8 games he has played here, I think that I am officially disappointed with 97'-born Kroeker's 1 assist, -5 plus/minus rating (team worst forward for the games played), and his overall contribution. For my money, I would rather see a whole lot more of the effort of 99'-born Brett Davis (0 points, even plus/minus for the same 8 game period).
Sorry Krackers, especially with Estephan out, you are going to have to contribute a whole lot more than you have been for the ice time you are getting.
Noel Morcosteng