For the second game in a row, the final 10 minutes of the third period proved to be the difference as the Edmonton Oil Kings scored four times to beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-0 Saturday night at the ENMAX Centre.
The Canes had a great first period in this hockey game and came out with some fire against a team they beat a few weeks ago at Rexall Place. Despite being the much better team in the opening 20 minutes, there was no scoring as Tristan Jarry stopped all 17 shots the Hurricanes directed his way, including a penalty shot from Taylor Copper.
In the second, the play started to even out as the Oil Kings found a little bit of life. The Hurricanes though still had the best chance, on what was their second penalty shot of the game, this time Jamal Watson missed the net and the game remained scoreless through two periods of play.
The game stayed at 0-0 until midway through the third period, when the Oil Kings scored four times. The eventual game winner came off the stick of Brett Pollock at the 11:21 mark to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead and break the scoreless tie. Four minutes later the Oil Kings added some insurance when Aaron Irving stepped right of the penalty box, picked up the loose puck at centre ice and moved in on a breakaway and beat Zac Robidoux to make it 2-0.
The Hurricanes pulled the goalie late, but Edmonton's Tyler Robertson scored into an empty net to seal the victory for Edmonton. The visitors did get one more in the final seconds. Ashton Sautner fired a shot by Robidoux from the point with 7 seconds left and that would be it. Edmonton blanked the Hurricanes 4-0.
Edmonton out shot the Hurricanes 34-32. The difference in this game was a double-edged sword for Lethbridge. The Canes not only had two penalty shots which they failed to score on, but also seven power plays, including a lengthy two-man advantage early in the third period. Tristan Jarry stole the show as well, especially in that first period when the Hurricanes were all over the Oil Kings.
The loss drops the Hurricanes overall record to 5-10-3-1 on the season. The Canes are not in last place in the WHL standings, but those 5 victories are the lowest wins total in the league right now. The Hurricanes have earned four points with losses in either the shoot out or overtime this season.
The Hurricanes next action is on the road in Red Deer on Friday (Nov. 14) when they play the Rebels for the first time this season. The Canes return home Saturday (Nov. 15) when they host Kootenay.
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.
The latest two games were the best the Canes have played in the last two seasons! Hard to beat a hot goaltender...the boys need to focus on the positives from the last two games and then the table will begin to tilt in their favour! BELIEVE!!!
ReplyDeleteLBJ
You're dreaming. Count on picking first in draft again this year. I believe that.
ReplyDeleteHey !! La Ron ,or is it La Wrong ? You also believe that the world is flat , and if you travel too far east or west you'll fall off the edge. Have you been watching the last 10 games ? LBJ is right . Time to BELIEVE !!! The team is continuing to improve . GO CANES !!! Play with confidence .
DeleteOf course they are improving, so is every other team in the league. Playing better does not mean a whole lot if it doesn't turn into wins, 11 pts in the last 10 games is .500 hockey. I have never seen a more fragile hockey team, once Swift made it 3-2 you could tell they were not going to hang on for the win. So many factors in play there from the mental aspect, to leadership to coaching to not having players capable of shifting the momentum back. There is little top end talent, no depth in the 97or 98 age group and the D is awful. This team will not be good for at leats four more years.
DeleteDerek Sutton
I just love how people refuse to let others be positive. The team is clearly better than last year, and they are still learning to win. Nobody is expecting them to make the playoffs this year and if you are adjust your expectations. Lets start with aiming to win 30 games and go from there. Stop picking them apart like the just won a championship and you desperately want them to maintain that level. I am still extremely skeptical of management but the coaching staff have made strides in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteChris
What blog are you reading? People are welcome to be as positive as they want but others aren't going to ignore the fact that this team is garbage and once again at the bottom of the league.
DeleteIf anything it is people who aren't igonoring reality that aren't allowed to post and instead are subject to personal insults from guys like Sean.
The team isn't playing better, it isn't taking steps towards becoming better and has 0 hope for the future. If you and others want to put your head in the sand go ahead but try to do it without the insults to those of us who see this dumpster fire for the mess it is.
Chris, thanks for your comment . We must give the negative comment writers some sympathy , they are only trying to lighten their own shortcomings by putting other people down.
ReplyDeleteEveryhting I typed is true. You tell me what the positives were from this week end. Fans calling what we saw as "good hockey" forget the days when we actually had good WHL hockey here in Lethbridge. What is happening now is what DB and BR had hoped for. They fed us gruel for so long people are now looking at the meatloaf as if it is Prime Rib.
Deleteanon: 18:09 . Maybe you have not been watching the last 9 games .
DeleteOct. 21 at Edm. win-2pts
24 at SK. win-2pts.
25 at P.A. win-2pts.
26 at Pats - loss
29 vs. P.A. win- 2pts
31 vs. Brd. o.t. loss 1pt.
Nov . 1 at Koot. o.t. loss 1pt.
7 vs S.C. o.t. loss 1 pt.
8 vs. Edm. loss.
Last nine games possible pts-18
4 wins -------------8 pts
3 ot losses-------3 pts-
total pts.------------------------------ 11
Include in the list of teams they faced-- Brandon once - Edmonton twice - Regina once, all very good teams . I for one give the team credit for a good effort . Now enjoy your meatloaf and try hard to smile sometimes.
I certainly didn't put anyone down. (Although Sean tried to by mocking my name). Seems more like any who claim to be positive have to do it by criticizing others.
DeleteIt's irrelevant. The team is a LONG way away from the playoffs and if not for Saskatoon, they would once again be last.
If you think you're eating prime rib, you've never tasted it.
Damn you Saskatoon !!!!! Why do you have to spoil LaRon's fun ? If it not for all the other teams in the WHL except Saskatoon and Kootnay they would be in first place .
DeleteI prefer fillet mignon .
If that's you're preference, you're cheering for the wrong team.
DeleteLaRon
I don't think anyone is claiming to eat prime rib. I was there for the 97 season, i welcomed the police escorted bus back from Seattle, I rode the emotional roller coaster of the comeback against Hull at the Memorial Cup. The fact is we haven't been successful since Michael Dycks contract wasn't renewed by the board and it sent this organization into a tailspin. Greed by the board was behind that decision, we lost in the first round of the PLAYOFFS which apparently wasn't acceptable. Now after hitting rock bottom last year the fan base is trying to pick positives from each game in hopes of those positives happening with some regularity. Nobody is eating prime rib, its more like eating a piece of meat with gristle in it. Instead of spitting that entire piece of meat out, the fans are able to just pull the chunk of gristle out and keep chewing. I am as proud as I was in 97 to be a Canes fan for 2 reasons, Lethbridge is in the name and its a bunch of kids busting their butt playing hockey.
ReplyDeleteChris
Excellent post Chris. I try not to be negative toward the individual players. My negativity is toward the Board which, as you correctly say, has been greedy and made selfish economic business decisions in the past 5-7 years. I won't go to the games or buy merchandise as I feel that is sending the Board the wrong message. As opposed to going and booing, jeering or throwing a jersey on the ice, this is my way of showing the Board I don't support their decisions or the way in which they're running the franchise.
DeleteAs a shareholder, I go to the meetings and voice my opinion at that time. This is the way I choose to try and change the culture of the team.
To each their own and I don't condemn you for continuing to buy tickets.
LaRon
Actually we lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs, 4 straight to Calgary. We beat Saskatoon in the first round in 7 games.
ReplyDeleteRK