LETHBRIDGE - Brady Ramsay scored a hatrick as the Lethbridge Hurricanes routed the Kelowna Rockets 6-2 Friday night at the ENMAX Centre.
A fantastic start for the Hurricanes. Lethbridge hammered 10 shots on the Kelowna goal in the opening 5 minutes, but Adam Brown was outstanding in the Rockets net making a number of great saves. Lethbridge did eventually get a few past him. Graham Hood was set up nicely in front of the Kelowna goal, socring his 12th of the season to give the home side a 1-0 lead. A few minutes later Lethbridge would draw a penalty and they'd make the Rockets pay. Brady Ramsay wrapped the puck by Brown low, along the ice for his 20th of the season, giving the Hurricanes 2-0. Ramsay is the second Hurricane, besides Brody Sutter and previously Cam Braes before the trade to Moose Jaw this season to hit the 20 goal plateau. The Canes would hold on to that lead heading into the dressing room after 20 minutes of play. Lethbridge held the edge in shots 16-10. That was probably as good an opening period as the Hurricanes have played this season.
In the second, the Hurricanes would pick up right where they left off in the first period. The Canes would get another power play as Brady Ramsay would lift a backhander over Brown for his 2nd of the night at 21st of the season to give Lethbridge a 3-0 lead. The Canes would make it 4-0 when Nick Bounassisi blasted home his 16th of the season after a nice cross-ice feed from Juraj Bezuch. The Rockets would end up getting one of those back on a late power play when Tyson Baillie broke the shut out bid for Damien Ketlo cutting the Hurricanes lead to 4-1. In the final seconds of the period, the Hurricanes power play would do some more damage. With just 12 seconds to go, Braday Ramsay would score his first career hatrick and 22nd of the season off a nice pass from Phil Tot. That would put the Hurricanes into a commanding 5-1 lead after 40 minutes. The Canes held the edge in shots 29-23 following two periods of play.
In the third, the Rockets would make a goaltending change as Jordan Cooke would come in to replace Adam Brown. Early in the period, Kelowna would score on a power play. Cody Chickie knocked the puck by Damien Ketlo to cut the Lethbridge lead to 5-2. The Hurricanes though would add one more before the final buzzer sounded when Brody Sutter lifted a long shot by Cooke for his team-leading 29th of the season. That would be it as the Canes would win their 3rd in a row, 6-2 the final score. The Hurricanes power play was dynamite again, going 3 for 6. The Rockets finished the night 2 for 3. The final shots were 39-39. The line of Ramsay, Sutter, and Tot connected for 8 points combined in this game. In fact, in the last four games, that same line has clicked for 26 points points.
The Hurricanes played an outstanding game from start to finish in this one and really outworked the Rockets. Rich Preston rolled all four lines all night long and every player on the Hurricanes played a roll in this win. The victory improves the Hurricanes record to 25-36-0-1 on the season in 62 games. They've also moved to within one win of an even .500 record on home ice at 16-17.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes are down to their final 10 games in this WHL season. They'll play their next 4 straight on the road starting with a matinee game game Sunday (Feb. 26) against the Oil Kings in Edmonton. Game time is 2:00 pm (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 1:30. The Canes will then return home for a day before heading to Saskatchewan to play Prince Albert next Wednesday (Feb. 29), Friday in Brandon (Mar. 2), and Saturday (Mar. 3) against the Warriors in Moose Jaw.
Thanks,
Pat
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Wow, does this team look so much better than a couple of months ago! Ramsay has to be the most improved player over the course of the season. Goes over the 20 goal mark, could hit 25 before the season ends. Could be a 30-35 goal man next season.
ReplyDeleteOk, what's with the fans? Guy scores a hat trick on home ice. How many hats thrown? 1
Great 60 minute effort last night. Really enjoyed the game. The boys had a lot of jump. Ramsey was terrific with the hat trick as was Sutter and Tot. They looked tough to stop all night. Defence did good job holding Bulmer pointless..Johnston and Henry +3. This is pretty much the team for next year so this is a very positive sign! Good luck in Edmonton boys! TD
ReplyDeleteExcellent effort by the team last night. Powerplay is successful because the players are constantly moving and the d-men are more engaged.
ReplyDeleteRamsay's hat trick put an exclamation mark on his season. He has to be the overwhelming favorite to be named most improved player. He could hit the 25 mark before the season ends and should be a 30-35 goal man next season.
Speaking of hat trick's....where the heck has that tradition gone? I counted 1 hat on the ice after his third goal. Maybe because it is the threat of the refs calling a delay of game penalty. What a joke, for the league to take away one of the time honored traditions in hockey.
Good win boys....now upset the Oil Kings!
Do the math, it does not lie. Pat was talking about the Hurricanes record after their 1 win in 19 game stretch. If the math is done, for the first 22 games the Hurricanes were 3-19-0-0. (22) In the last 40 games the Hurricanes are 22-17-0-1 for a winning percentage of .563. Three factors come to mind, the huge reduction in penalty minutes, improved PK that has climbed from 21st to 16th and a vast improvement in the PP which has jumped from 21st to 9th.
ReplyDeleteWas someone complaining about the coaching?
It boils down to the fact that a lot of teams can't handle the speed of this club especially the kids, that the 16-17 year olds took about half a season to get used to all the games and ice time, and that the coaches have learned how to utilize the player's skills that they have at hand.
Future looks bright!
Great game for the TEAM. It was good to see all 4 lines get playing time. i even saw Watson and Bezuch on the power play. To those that want to get rid of Bezuch did you watch this game. His speed and puck control were very evident in this one. It was a great game for the Sutter, Ramsay and Tot line. I have called out Sutter on here in the past and now I will congratulate him. He had some rough games after not being traded but has really stepped up since. Way to go Brody. Now for the R. Maxwell sagga. After his play this year I am not sure he deserves a spot on the team next year, we have other young guys ready to step up and he seems to be in reverse. As far as the coaching I actually saw Preston talking to the players during the game, that was a first. Still not sure if the players improvement is because of coaching or age. I guess only the players know that. AJ
ReplyDelete