PRINCE GEORGE, BC - Three goals in a span of over just over three minutes in the first period lifted the cougars to a 6-3 victory over the Hurricanes Friday night in P.G.
An excellent start for the Hurricanes in this game. They were all over the Cougars in the early part of the first period and got on the scoreboard early. Craig Leverton hammered home his 2nd goal of the season less than 3 minutes in to give Lethbridge a 1-0 lead. The Hurricanes were all over PG, having out shot the Cougars 12-2 at one point in the opening period. That didn't last long. Prince George came back with three goals in roughly three minutes, two on the power play. Jesse Forsberg tapped home the puck by Damien Ketlo, who made his 12 consecutive start in goal for the Hurricanes to even the score at 1-1. That goal was scored on the man advantage. Just over a minute later, the Cougars would go ahead 2-1 when Jordan Tkatch knocked the puck behind Ketlo. Then a minute after that, another power play goal for PG when Cody Carlson hammered a point shot by Ketlo and just like that, The Cougars had jumped into a two goal lead after 20 minutes. Drew Owsley was busy in the Prince George goal, as the Canes out shot the Cougars 21-16.
In the second, Lethbridge would get to within one, when Brody Sutter blasted a shot by Owsley on the power play to make it a 3-2 game in favour of PG. The Cougars though would get that one back quickly. Just 12 seconds later, right off the draw at centre ice, Daulton Siwak fired the puck by Ketlo to make it 4-2 PG. Two minutes after that, the Cougars would get another one. Cody Carlson's wrist shot went off a Lethbridge defender and past Ketlo to give the home side a 5-2 lead. That was it for Damien Ketlo is goal. He was pulled in favour of Liam Liston for the rest of the night. Lethbridge got one more before the period ended, when Brady Ramsey backhanded home his 15th of the season to cut the Prince George lead to 5-3 after 40 minutes of play. Lethbridge kept pounding pucks at Drew Owsley in that PG goal. The Hurricanes held the edge in shots 40-27 through two periods of play.
In the third, the Cougars would make it 6-3 when Greg Fraser tapped the puck by Liam Liston. That would widen the Prince George lead by three. Unfortunately for Lethbridge, that would be as close as they would get. The Hurricanes pounded over 50 shots on Drew Owsley in the Prince Goerge goal, as he was key in this victory for the Cougars. Lethrbidge out shot PG 52-40 on the night. Penalties were a big problem for Lethbridge in this one. PG finished the game 3 for 10 on the power play and the Hurricanes went 1 for 4. Assistant Coach Chris Chisamore said on the CJOC post game show that the Canes need to be more disciplined and can't be giving other teams 10 power plays and expect to win a game. The loss drops the Hurricanes overall record to 16-28-0-1 in 45 games this season.
AUSTIN FYTEN A VANCOUVER GIANT
The Vancouver Giants acquired the rights to 20 year old forward Austin Fyten earlier in the week. The Hurricanes had to drop Fyten off their reoster on Sunday, prior to the trade deadline, because at that time they had 4 overage players listed (Fyten, Braes, Ketlo, Sutter). The Giants picked up his rights and according to Gregg Drinnan of the Kamloops Daily News, the Giants are flying Fyten out to the west coast so he can be assessed by team doctors. Fyten was badly injured in the pre-season, when he suffered a knee injury during a game in Taber. He underwent surgery a few months ago and is still taking rehab. It's not know when or if Fyten will play again this season.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes will play the second of back-to-back games against the Cougars in Prince George Saturday night (Jan. 14). After that, the team heads all the way down to Vancouver where they will play the Giants on Tuesday night (Jan. 17). Game time from PG Saturday is 8:00 pm (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:30.
Thanks,
Pat
The views expressed on this blog are those of the moderator and contributors and are not endorsed by 94.1 CJOC or the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
You are going to loose games when you run into a hot goalie. Owsley by the sounds of it played an excellent game.
ReplyDeleteThe disturbing part to this game was the lack of discipline. With Braes being traded all players are required to pick up their game. 19 yr olds should be leading the team on the ice not the parade to the penalty box. Some of the young guys should want some of Braes minutes. They are not going to get those minutes by yapping off to the ref and sitting in the box for 10.
I am sure Preston is just as upset with the lack of dsicipline that the fans are! Something has to be done to reinforce the message to stay out of the box. Lazy and selfish penalties are hurting this team. Maybe some of the offenders should sit for a game of two. Something has to be done to get the message across.
The lack of discipline is also hurting them in the eyes of the Ref and they ( the refs ) will now not give them the benefit of the doubt.
the canes lead the dub in penalty minutes this year and last, their lack of discipline has always been a thorn in my side !
ReplyDeleteNothing against Ketlo here, but Liston needs to be given more starts. I don't understand why Preston keeps riding Ketlo every game when we're most likely not going to make the playoffs. If Liston is going to be our guy next year, it would make sense to actually let him play. Liston has been good when he's played, why not play him more?
ReplyDeleteI actually thought that Preston rode Ketlo a little too much. Watching the highlights on the WHL site he let in goals that he would not normally let in. Overworked maybe! Hopefully Liston gets the start tonight and give Ketlo a break.
ReplyDeleteTo Mike @ 3:39. You stated "I don't understand why Preston keeps riding Ketlo every game". It is because Ketlo is by far the main reason the Canes have been even half decent for the last 2 months.
ReplyDeleteThe question I would like answered is...........Why doesn't Preston play Merkley more? Something is amiss with Jay and the Canes. I don't know if it is more Merkley or Preston, but something has to give soon I hope. The kid started out like a house on fire but lately has been all but invisible on the ice.
Canesrock, I agree Ketlo has played extremely well and has stolen a number of games for us, but I just think Liston should play a little more since he'll be our guy next year. As for Merkley, I have been wondering that same thing. I also think that Bezuch should get more ice time seeing as he's arguably the most skilled player on the team. He just seems to have that "spunk" every time he touches the puck. He'd start to put up more points if they gave him more minutes.
ReplyDeleteOK Mike @ 3:39 and Anon @ 4:52 now I agree with you. WTF....why is Preston not playing Liston tonight. Makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteMike @ 7:59.....Well listening to the game in PG tonight, it sounds like Merkley and Bejuch (sp) are FINALLY getting some ice time.
ReplyDeleteMerkley is good when the going is good. But not a grit player when things get tough. He had issues in Calgary when things didn't go his way. Maybe a bit high on himself and needs to be put in his place. And maybe he just doesn't work hard enough at practice to warrant ice time. We need to see everyone hustling and trying to contribute and fight for those greasy goals.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mike.........Liston needs to see the ice.....NOW!!
ReplyDeleteMerkley is going to be an integral part of this franchise in the next 3 years, so I hope some of the blogger's theories aren't true. I agree he needs to work hard, but he (and the rest of the 16 year olds) need to be taught that it's not the end of the world when they make mistakes and taught how to learn from them.
ReplyDelete