LETHBRIDGE - Four power plays goals helped the Saskatoon Blades to a 6-3 come-back win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday night at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes wanted to get out to a quick start in this game and they did just that. Just over two minutes in, Brody Sutter tipped in a nice pass from Brady Ramsay on the power play to give the Canes a 1-0 lead. It was Sutter's team-leading 25th of the season. A few minutes after that, Lethbridge would get another one. Tyler Kizuik hammered the puck by Saskatoon goalie Andrey Makarov for his 3rd of the year. That made it 2-0 Hurricanes just past the midway point of the period. Just 46 seconds later though, Brent Benson moved in for the Blades and tipped a shot by Damien Ketlo to get Saskatoon on the board. That cut the Lethbridge lead to 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. Saskatoon held the edge in shots at 12-9.
In the second, the Blades would get back to even terms with a power play goal of their own. Jesse Paradis, while on his knees knocked the puck by Ketlo to tie things up at 2-2. A little while later, Saskatoon would get it's first lead of the night. Michael Burns shot just sneaked by Ketlo, low along the ice to put the visitors ahead 3-2. It appeared that's the way the period would end, but Saskatoon would get yet another power play and with less than one second to go on the clock, Lukas Sutter tipped the puck by Ketlo to give Saskatoon a huge 4-2 lead heading to the dressing room after two periods of play. The goal went to video review, but after a short look, it was ruled a good goal. The shots favoured the Blades 28-24.
In the third, the Blades would go ahead 5-2 on yet another power play goal, their 4th on the man advantage in the game. Matt Stransky snapped the puck by Ketlo to give the Blades a comfortable three goal lead. The Hurricanes would get one more. Jamal Watson turned on his blazing speed, put the puck off the post and the rebound was buried by Craig Leverton for his 4th of the season. That cut the Blades lead to 5-3. Saskatoon would get that one back before the game would end, went Matt Stransky scored his second of the night to make it 6-3 Saskatoon and that's the way the game would end. Lethbridge out shot Saskatoon 35-33. Special teams were clearly the difference. Saskatoon's power play was excellent finishing the night 4 for 6, while the Canes went 1 for 3. The loss drops the Hurricanes record to 21-35-0-1 in 57 games.
The Hurricanes saw the return of defenceman Spencer Galbraith Friday night. He'd missed the last number of games with an ankle injury. He returned briefly in Brandon a week ago, but only played a few shifts in that game.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes will close out this weekend set of home games Saturday (Feb. 11) when they host the Prince Albert Raiders. The Canes have dropped both games this season to the Raiders, including a lopsided loss in Lethbridge a few weeks ago. Game time is 7:00 pm (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
Thanks,
Pat
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Well it was a great start last night. Then the ref's took over and really messed up a good hockey game. On the penalty kill we were terrible. It looked kind of like the allstar game when you don't hit anyone. How bad was Hood again did not touch anyone all night and he is our big physical guy. He had the chance to set the tone in front of our net and he just skated buy. It appears Maxwell is on the bad list now since him and Moline road the pine last night and Bezuch was a scratch. What happened to Maxwell he went from playing so good last year to being invisible this year. Could it be the coaches. How long do we wait to make the change that is 2 years past due. AJ
ReplyDeleteThere's no way you fire a coach at this point of the year AJ when the playoffs are out of sight. Absolutely no point at all.
ReplyDelete"The change is 2 years past due?" So you're saying you would have fired Preston as the coach AND the GM 2 years ago when he was only 1 year into a 5 year contract???? Good thing you're not on the Board of Directors. That just doesn't make any sense.
Here's a question: Could it be that Maxwell's game hasn't been very good this year (in practice or games)??? Blaming the coaches is easy.....maybe it's not just coaches that you should be looking at. (Bezuch wouldn't know his own end of the rink if he pitched a tent in it, so don't get me started on him! Ya, he's great 1-1, but he doesn't understand the team concept whatsoever....he thinks he's on the ice by himself).
Let's see how this year plays out and how the next year's first month goes. Not saying Preston is the greatest coach in the world, but I think we need to see how this plays out a little more.
Darren:
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify one item. Preston does not have, nor was he ever signed to a 5 year contract. He was signed to a 3 year contract with 2 following option years. The option being either he wants to take another year or the board wants him to continue another year.
As for his coaching, I know yelling and screaming at the players does not get any results, but talking to the players after a good play or mistake does help the players know that the coach is working with their best interest at heart. Preston could do more of that, as he does appear to be rather nonchalant behind the bench.
Soooooo, what, exactly does Preston have left on his contract?? I was told he had been signed to those extensions. Maybe I was misinformed?
ReplyDeleteAnyone know?