Lethbridge Hurricanes push for a spot in the post-season.
It’s crunch time for the 'Canes to get into playoffs.
The Lethbridge Hurricanes open a two-game home stand Wednesday night as they host the Calgary Hitmen. The teams have split a pair of games, so far, this season with the road team winning both contests.
That would point the advantage arrow in the direction of the Hitmen, a slumping team trying to turn its season around.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” said 'Canes head coach Brent Kisio. “We’ve played a couple games against them and they’ve been hard-fought battles. They’re a good hockey club that’s fighting for a playoff spot.”
The Hurricanes currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference, nine points ahead of the eighth -place Hitmen, who just went 0 for Manitoba last week, losing twice in Winnipeg and then again in Brandon.
The top eight teams earn a spot in the playoffs.
“We’re always thinking about the post-season,” said Hurricanes co-captain Jett Jones. “We have boards in the room to keep it in the back of our minds. Right now, it’s crunch time.”
The Lethbridge Hurricanes practice on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023
BIG POINTS
The 'Canes have 17 games left in the regular season and five of those are against the Hitmen.
“As a team we’re going to approach this as a series” said Jones. “There will be big points coming down to the end of them getting into playoffs and where we find ourselves.”
Lethbridge goaltender Bryan Thomson agreed with his teammate. “It’s the final playoff push so we want to rack up as many points as we can and we’re all pretty excited to do that,” said Thompson.
The Hurricanes don’t have a lot of post-season experience. The club was swept in the first round by the Edmonton Oil Kings last season and because of the COVID pandemic the two WHL playoffs before that, in 2020 and 2021, were cancelled.
It’s a similar story across the rest of the hockey league, says Kisio. “There’s a lot of us without playoff experience, [so it's] kind of an even playing field there,” said Kisio. “Last year, we got a little bit [of playoff experience] and hopefully we can go for a good run this year and get a little more and gain that experience back.”
The 'Canes' push for playoffs continues Wednesday night at the Enmax Centre. It was also supposed to be Hurricanes hockey card night, but Wednesday afternoon, they tweeted that the event has been postponed to Feb.24.
Puck drop is 7 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More Canadians only making minimum payment on credit cards: TransUnion
Some Canadians are seeing their credit card balances grow as the cost-of-living crisis and higher interest rates eat into household budgets, a new report shows.
Tornado touches down west of the Island of Montreal
Emergency services in the town of Rigaud, Que. are investigating after a tornado touched down shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
Tanks reach Rafah's centre as Israel presses assault despite global scrutiny
Israeli tanks reached the centre of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, witnesses said, three weeks into a ground operation in the southern Gaza city that has sparked global condemnation.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
Arm of mummy came off after mishandling by museum staff: Mexican government
Mexico's federal archaeology agency on Monday accused the conservative-governed city of Guanajuato of mistreating one of the country’s famous mummified 19th century bodies.
Five of Ontario's top 10 worst roads are located in the Toronto area
A new pothole-riddled street in Hamilton has taken the top spot for the worst road in Ontario, according to a new list released by the Canadian Automotive Association (CAA) on Tuesday.
DEVELOPING In Trump's hush money trial, prosecutors and defence lawyers are poised to make final pitch to jury
Prosecutors and defence lawyers in Donald Trump's hush money trial are set to deliver closing arguments to the jury Tuesday, each side looking to score final points with the panel before it starts deliberating the fate of the first former American president to be charged with felony crimes.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.