NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Lethbridge Hurricanes goaltender Koen Cleaver makes a pad save on a breakaway chance by Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Jonas Woo in the third period of a 7-2 Game 2 win Saturday at Co-op Place in the Eastern Conference Championship series.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
If anyone needed some rest following the opening weekend of the WHL’s Conference Championship series, it was the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes returned home Saturday night following a 7-2 loss at Medicine Hat’s Co-op Place, falling behind the Tigers 2-0 in the best-of-seven, third-round series. Lethbridge also dropped Game 1 Friday 5-2, a pair of losses that finished a stretch of three games in four nights coming off a Game 7 win at Calgary over the Hitmen on April 23.
Hurricanes’ assistant coach Ryan Aasman says they knew they would have difficulties with the pace, an excuse he knows will lose credibility from here on.
“Game 1 was all about trying to manage their pace, it was a different pace in the series, they were fresh and obviously a very well-coached team that has a lot of pieces and came up with a lot of pace, and we figured that out in the third period a little bit,” Aasman said. “Saturday night was the same thing, I just don’t think we have our legs under us yet. So, we can use a couple of excuses right now, but now as the series flips back home and we get a little bit of rest and a practice, there’s no more excuses moving forward, we have to get to our game.”
That game is playing with more energy, Aasman says, something they struggled with in the first half of both Game 1 and 2.
“We have to play with more pace, we have to possess the puck more and we have to check with our legs more,” Aasman said. “Some of the stuff that made us successful all year has to come back into our game if we want a better result.”
The Hurricanes host the Tigers for Game 3 tonight at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena, with Game 4 also at home on Wednesday. It’s the first time these playoffs the Hurricanes have trailed a series 2-0, and they look to turn the tide in front of their fans. Aasman says they’ll welcome the boost of being on home ice.
“It’s been a friendly rink for us all year, that’s kind of the way of the Central Division as home games have been good for all the teams,” Aasman said. “We’re excited to come home, we have great fans, we play good at home. It’s not an easy rink to come into, but we have to take care of our own business and make sure we’re playing the game the right way so it sets us up to grab some momentum.”
Logan Warmold and Brayden Yager scored in Game 1, and Kooper Gizowski and Anthony Wilson found the back of the net in Game 2 for the Hurricanes. Jackson Unger started both contests but was pulled for Keon Cleaver who has stopped all 23 shots he’s faced in net.
The Hurricanes will look to carry momentum from the second half efforts in Games 1 and 2 where they were able to both find the back of the net and hold control. Aasman says the pushback in those frames is a positive to build off, as well as Cleaver’s play.
“Koen stepping up and playing rock solid was huge, the play of Brayden Edwards as well, we can play him with whatever wingers we want and he finds ways to make things happen and compete and do things the right way all the time,” Aasman said. “I’ve been very impressed with those two guys specifically, and some of our younger guys have gotten some ice time and experience and feeling in the series has been important.
“On the flip side of that, we can expect more from our veteran players and that needs to come as well.”
