Canes preparing for crucial trip

By Lethbridge Herald on February 2, 2024.

Herald photo by JUSTin SEWARD Lethbridge Hurricanes Brayden Edwards is stopped by Harrison Meneghin during practice on Friday.

After tonight’s home game versus the Calgary Hitmen, the Lethbridge Hurricanes will embark on the last extended road trip of the season in a stretch that will be crucial in terms of hopefully picking up points and moving up the standings.

The trip begins with a tough contest against the first place Saskatoon Blades on Tuesday, a date with the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday, next Friday in Brandon and end in Swift Current on Feb. 14.

“We’ll worry about Calgary here first and foremost,” said Bill Peters, Hurricanes head coach.

“But going on the road’s going to be a good challenge, we’ll need everybody, and hopefully get a few guys back and then also be able to use everybody on the road, especially in the back-to-back.”

Peters thinks specialty teams and depth scoring will be important if the team wants wins on this road trip.

He would like to see the players tighten up.

“We’re a good team defensively,” said Peters.

“I think we’re probably in the top five (in) goals against in the league. But … when it gets away from us, it gets away from us and then we don’t seem to be able to  put an end to it. So we got to be able to put an end to it when other team’s get some momentum.”

Peters wants to see his team take care of their end of the ice.

“So we just need to make sure we’re looking after our end of the ice and being hard to play against in the offensive zone too,” said Peters.

“When we’re at our best, we have some zone time and when we’re a little bit loose and it’s a bit of a track meet, we seem to struggle.”

Even before the bus hits the road, the Hurricanes play Calgary who are behind them in ninth  and Prince Albert is in eighth place as of Friday night.

Peters said every game’s important.

“So we’d like to win the head-to-head games obviously against the  teams that are close to us, but anytime you get a chance to get two points, that’s got to be your focus,” he said.

Forward Brayden Edwards wants to see himself and his  teammates get back on track with their game on the trip.

“We’ve slipped away from it here a little bit in the past few games ,” said Edwards.

“But we’re playing some tough teams. So making sure everything’s dialed in our penalty kill (and) powerplay.”

Defenceman Will Sharpe thinks it comes to the mental side on the road.

“We know we got to play good against these teams and Sask (Saskatoon)  obviously (is) going to be a tough challenge for us,” said Sharpe.

“But I think if we play our game and play hard, I think it’ll be a good game for us.”

 The Hurricanes sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with Prince Albert and Calgary right behind them.