Friday 16 December 2011

Hurricanes Beat Victoria 5-4 in Overtime

LETHBRIDGE - One line did most of the damage as the Lethbridge Hurricanes won their 5th straight on home-ice, beating the Victoria Royals 5-4 in overtime Friday night.

The Hurricanes got off to another quick start, this time it was Brody Sutter that opened the scoring. Just 2:01 into the game, Phil Tot dropped a blind pass from behind the Victoria goal and Sutter fired it by Keith Hamilton for his 15th of the season to give Lethbridge an early 1-0 lead. The game stayed that way and the Hurricanes had several chances to increase their lead and they found a way to do just that late in the period when Phil Tot scored with just 35 seconds to go to give Lethbridge a 2-0 lead heading into the dressing room. It was Tot's 3rd goal of the season. The Canes held the edge in shots 12-11 after 20 minutes.

In the second, the Hurricanes would extend their lead to 3-0. Graham Hood, who's been a monster lately nailed home his 7th of these season, and third in two games. That was a power play goal and gave Lethbridge a bit of breathing room. That forced Victoria to make a goaltending change. Jared Rathjen was in and Keith Hamilton out. A few minutes later, Victoria would get on the scoreboard. Jesse Pauls would score on the power play, beating a screened Damien Ketlo. That cut the Hurricanes lead to 3-1. That would be it for the period. The Royals held the edge in shots 25-22.

In the third, the Royals would make it a one-goal hockey game. Less than a minute in, Ben Walker cashed in a rebound by Ketlo to cut the Lethbridge lead to 3-2 with lots of hockey to be played. A few minutes later, the Royals would complete the comeback. Jesse Pauls was left alone in front of the goal and scored his second of the game to tie the score at 3-3 and then moments later, Victoria would take the lead for the first time when Jamie Crooks ripped a shot by Ketlo and in. That made it 4-3 Royals. The Royals scored three goals in roughly 6 minutes to take the one-goal lead. Seconds later, Lethbridge would tie things when Dan Johnston scored his first of the year to make it a 4-4 score. That ended up sending the game into overtime for the second consecutive night at the ENMAX Centre. Early in the extra period, the Hurricanes did it again. This time Brady Ramsey was the hero, scoring the O.T. winner to give Lethbridge another thrilling 5-4 comeback win. It was Ramsey's 15th of the season and a big one at that. Victoria out shot Lethbridge 44-28. The Royals finished the game 1/6 on the power play and Lethbridge 1/2. Assistant Coach Chris Chisamore said on the CJOC post-game show that eventhough he's happy with the victories, but is concerned about letting teams back into games. With that, he'll take the win and move on.

The Hurricanes are playing some pretty darn good hockey right now. That's 5 straight wins at home, 7 victories in their last 8 at the ENMAX Centre and 10 of their past 14 overall. This is the best stretch of hockey the Canes have played in the last three seasons. Cam Braes' 10 game point scoring streak came to an end in this one.

AT THE HALF-WAY POINT

The Hurricanes are now officially at the half-way point in this WHL season. They sit with a record of 13-22-0-1 for 27 points. Compare that to the Canes record at the half-way point last season when the finished 36 games with a record of 12-16-2-6 for 32 points.

NEXT UP

The Hurricanes will close out their pre-Christmas schedule Saturday when they host the Swift Current Broncos. It's the annual Teddy Bear Toss game. Fans are asked to bring a stuffed animal to the game and when the Canes score their first goal, all the toys will be thrown onto the ice, collected, and donated to several local charities in the Lethbridge-region. Last season, Cam Braes scored the teddy bear goal.

Thanks,
Pat

12 comments:

  1. I couldn't help but notice the comments after the Calgary game. One of them said Sutter is a floater.... I saw the kid in Safeway and he is wearing a walking boot, so if you think he's floating you are mistaken. He could barely walk around a grocery store, yet he is still skating and playing every game for a team quite a bit out of the playoff race. Now thats leadership for our young players and future stars to look up to. I am sure Braes would be playing as well. Both these guys are warriors and battle through countless injuries we will never know about.

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  2. Another battle and a another win....the vets have been carrying the team recently, Sutter Braes, Tot, Hood and Johnston have been carrying the team on their back....this is the time the rookies normally hit the wall so the Christmas break is perfect timing...one more to go Canes go payback Swift for the beating they put on us earlier this year! TD

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  3. Well we got a better effort from the boys, although the 3rd period was a little scary. those of you that feel we should trade Johnston because he would get something in return for the future need to watch our young defense struggle at times. In my opinion he is our best player other than Ketlo. How do we stop giving up so many shots? After the last game I said Sutter was a floater and still feel that way. Yes he is playing hurt, yes he is getting points. Is he hitting anyone no, is he fighting anyone no, is he standing up for our young guys no. Brody is a great kid but he needs to play like he is the biggest guy on the team instead of the smallest. Oh and remember Preston was the assistant coach for one of his best freinds, and he did get fired

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  4. Agree about Sutter, he has been playing hurt as I am sure others are. Johnston's face looks like it has been through a meat grinder and I saw another Vet with his hand in some type of splint,,,,there is a lot of character and pride on this team.

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  5. Re Anon 914 - your comments on Johnston are right he is our best player next to Ketlo..5 points in last 2 games and since he has been back may be one of the best D men in the league right now...I love his play, effortless skater, really good passer , smart decisions and punishing physically...having said that his play is precisly why he would command a lot right now in a trade..."Sell high, buy low" ..the run for the championship is 2 years from now and he won't be here then and if he keeps playing like he is he may not be back next year...its about having a winning a championship mentality versus winning a few games...TD

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  6. Great first goal for Johnston!!

    Good for captain-Braes! He was up against Sundher again most of the night; his own scoring streak came to an end but (unlike the 3 goals in Victoria) he kept Sundher to just one assist!! Maybe Karma will provide another Teddy Bear goal for Cam this year as consolation?!

    Brody had a good game. (The walking boot makes his recent play make more sense) "Floater" may be a bit harsh, but he sure doesn't seem to take full advantage of his size to punish or even threaten his opponent. Often his linemates are doing all the hard board work and Brody is there to finish the play by putting the puck in the net....often getting all the credit. Tot, Hood, and Sutter were the only Canes with plus +/- ratings in this one, and they were more than the opposition could handle. They all worked hard and contributed both offensively and defensively.

    Many goal-scoring superstars have been labelled "floater" repeatedly during their career (Gretzky, Hull, Lemieux, Nugent-Hopkins??,...) but Sutter should not be in that conversation. - Richie.

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  7. edit.... "only Canes FORWARDS with plus +/- ratings" - Richie.

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  8. Teddy bear goal predictions? I think the rookies will be fired up...Merkley is my prediction....

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  9. Bezuch or Merkley... if they ever get more than 1 shift per period!!

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  10. I find a lot of this conversation a bit comical. People mention Johnston as the best dman our team, effortless skater, one of the best players in the league etc. Others mention how we got took in the Sbisa trade failing to mention that we got this best Dman in Johnston in that trade. Or that Ketlo is the best player on the team. Others mentioning that we should trade Ketlo for a stud 17/18 year old or 1st 2nd round pick. This is the same kid we got for a 5th round pick at the start of the season. How is Hood, Pilon and Erkamps looking in the Ashton trade? I know let’s bring up Balog. Still people want to kick this staff to the curb. Very confusing and comical. Guess its Prestons speaking skills. And many must not have been watching last night as Brody laid numerous hits. Go watch the tape. I think I am going to call myself the Sugar-coater. I really don’t see things as bad as most.

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  11. Sugar coater is right. Things are not bad. Has anyone noticed how this team seems to be playing for one another. The got down late in the last two games and did not give up and came back to win in OT both times. The boys are doing just fine even without the help of all of the couch GM/Coaches!

    Go Canes make it three in a row!

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  12. Glad there are so many opinions. Preston is doing a good job as gm not so much as coach

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