SASKATOON, SK. - Ryan Olson scored the only goal in a shootout as the Saskatoon Blades came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 Friday night.
A very swift start to the last night's game at the Credit Union Centre. Both teams came out strong with a good pace. The Hurricanes opened the socring in this one. Mitch Maxwell scored his 4th goal of the season to give the Canes' a 1-0 lead off a nice feed from Cam Braes. The Blades though would get that one back soon after. Ryan Olson's back-hander beat Brandon Anderson between the legs to tie the score 1-1. That's the way the period would end. The Blades out shot the Canes' 11-9 in the period. Mitch Maxwell had a great chance early in the first, but misfired on a breakaway.
In the second, the Canes' jumped out to a 2-1 lead when Mark Reners scored off a wrap-around attempt by Phil Tot. It was Reners first goal of season and a big one to give the visitors their one goal lead again. The Canes' would add another before the end of the period. The power play clicked again for the second game in a row. Mike Reddington scored his second goal of the season to give Lethbridge a 3-1 lead. The Blades would get one of those two goals back on a power play of their own before the end of the period. Curtis Hamilton ripped home a shot to get Saskatoon to within one. The Canes' would take a 3-2 lead into the dressing room. Lethbridge out shot the Blades 12-10 in the second, but the shots were even 21-21 through 40 minutes. Both teams continued to play well in the second and for the most part it was a pretty wide open game.
In the third, the Blades came out like a house on fire. They kept hammering away and finally tied the game late in the period on a 5-on-3 power play when Duncan Siemens scored. That would be the way regulation would end. The shots favoured Saskatoon 33-25 after three periods. In the overtime, both teams had some great chances, but the extra period once again solved nothing so for the fourth time this season, the Hurricanes would have to go to a shootout to settle things. The only goal scored in the shootout was by Saskatoon's Ryan Olson. That sealed the game and the win for Saskatoon. The Blades are still perfect on home ice this season with a 6-0 record at the Credit Union Centre. The Hurricanes get a hard-fought single point as their record now sits at 4-4-0-3. Saskatoon finished the night 2/7 on the power play while the Hurricanes were 1/5. Saskatoon out shot Lethbridge 37-27.
It was a pretty entertaining, end-to-end hockey game last night. The Hurricanes battled hard against a very good and resilient Saskatoon team. Penalties hurt the Canes' in this game. That was the difference. Lethbridge will need to play a more disciplined-style of game if they want to give themselves a chance to win each game. Penalties are going to happen, but the Hurricanes need to try and cut back on their trips to the box.
Next Up
The Hurricanes will close out this three game in four day Saskatchewan road trip tonight in Prince Albert. This will be the first of four meetings this season between Lethbridge and P.A. The Raiders had a rough one last night, losing 9-2 at home to Medicine Hat. Both the Hurricanes and Raiders are tied with 11 points in the Eastern Conference standings. The Canes' didn't have much success in Prince Albert last season. The Raiders had the Hurricanes number in the 09/10 campaign. This year, P.A. is lead offensively by Igor Rivenko and Brandon Herrod. Like the Canes', the Raiders have been playing .500 hockey so far this season and are right in the mix with almost every team in the Eastern Conference at the moment. It's hard to believe that some teams are getting close to the quarter point in the WHL season already. This game tonight with be game 14 for Prince Albert and game 12 for Lethbridge on the season. After tonight, the Canes' return home next week for two games. The Vancouver Giants will pay a visit to Lethbridge on Wednesday (Oct 27) and the Brandon Wheat Kings will stop by Saturday (Oct 30).
Game time tonight from Prince Albert is 7:00pm (MDT). The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
Thanks,
Pat
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STAY OUT OF THE BOX AND WE MAY HAVE WON ? why cant preston do something about this problem, we are the most penalized team in league ....bench the player(s) that take stupid penalties for a period, do something !
ReplyDeletego canes go
jeff
On a positive note....taking 3 out of a possible 4 points so far on this road trip is very good. Also the power play clicking because the "d-men" are contributing is a good sign. But,I still look for a deal to be made for another scoring forward or two, prior to the game with Vancouver.
ReplyDeleteLet's make it 5 out of 6 points with a win tonight in PA!
RJS
We've definately been getting too many penalties and it has to be addressed, but the calls last night were horrendous. I know every team has those games, so it's not an excuse but talking to Sask fans too, they were appaulled. We aren't the most penaltized team in the league I don't think, if you look at the whl site, vancouver is over 300 minutes already.
ReplyDeleteActually, the Hurricanes are the 5th most penalized team to this point. Kamloops has the most followed by Vancouver, Prince Albert, and Portland. No question though, the Canes have to be more disciplined. That will go a long way to helping this team succeed as this season move on.
ReplyDeletePat, wish mark reners a Happy Birthday from us Canes fans!!!
ReplyDeleteYes please do wish Reners a great birthday and a great game tonight. Hopefully he will get a present or two by seeing the the red light glowing!
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