Hurricanes Host Regina in WHL Playoffs

The Lethbridge Hurricanes finally know which team they'll be facing in round one of the Western Hockey League playoffs.

A Regina loss to Brandon Saturday and a Moose Jaw win over Swift Current means the Hurricanes will take on the Regina Pats. The post-season will open Friday night in Lethbridge, March 25. It's poised to be a series with the potential for plenty of goals. In the four games the Pats and Hurricanes played this season, Regina out scored the Canes 24-22. Regina was also one of the only teams to have a winning record over Lethbridge during the regular season. The Canes went 1-2-0-1 vs Regina in those four games. However, the playoffs are a whole different beast and in a seven game series anything can happen.

The Hurricanes finished the season with the second-best home record in the WHL, which should bode well for hosting a playoff series.

Unfortunately the Hurricanes couldn't close out the regular season with a win, losing 4-2 in Medicine Hat Saturday. They finish the season with a record of 46-24-1-1. It was a do or die game for Medicine Hat. That win ties them with Edmonton for the final playoff spot in the East and that means those two teams will play a one game tie-breaker to determine which club gets that final spot and a date with Brandon in the first round.

The Tigers scored first in this game. Ty Schultz scored 3:20 into the opening period to make it 1-0 Tigers. Lethbridge tied the game up when Jordy Bellerive put home his 11th of the season on the power play and it was a 1-1 game. Before the end of the period, Medicine Hat regained its one goal lead when Ryan Jevne scored on the power play, making 2-1 after one.

There was no scoring in the second period, but in the third the Tigers jumped ahead by a pair with a goal from Brian Williams early in the period. That made it 3-1 Medicine Hat. The Hurricanes got that one back a few minutes later thanks to Arvin Atwal's 11th of the year, cutting the lead to 3-2. It stayed that way until the final minute when the Tigers scored an empty netter from Zach Fischer and the Tigers would skate away with a 4-2 win.

The Canes had plenty of chances to score in this game including two missed breakaways and a third period goal post. The Tigers out shot the Hurricanes 32-31. Lethbridge went 1/4 on the power play and the Tigers were 1/3.

Hurricanes vs. Pats Playoff Schedule

Friday, March 25 in Lethbridge 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 26 in Lethrbidge 7:00 pm
Tuesday, March 29 in Regina 7:00 pm
Wednesday, March 30 in Regina 7:00 pm
Friday, April 1 in Lethbridge 7:00 pm (if necessary)
Tuesday, April 5 in Regina 7:00 pm (if necessary)
Wednesday, April 6 in Lethbridge 7:00 pm (if necessary)