Hurricanes look for consistency and urgency as playoffs loom

By Lethbridge Herald on March 14, 2023.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Cole Shepard battles for a shooting opportunity as the Saskatoon BladesÕ Lukas Hansen tries to defend him during Western Hockey League action at the Enmax Centre on Wednesday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes are in the midst of the stretch drive of the regular season and plenty is still at stake as they make their march to the postseason.

Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio said it’s just time for us (the team) to be urgent right now and desperate.

“You know we haven’t been playing our best hockey,” said Kisio.

“We had long stretches where we played really good hockey and it’s that time of year, where it’s just before playoffs, where guys can kind of lose focus a bit . And we had a nice lead in the standings as well and that makes it easier to lose that urgency to your game … The urgency has to be now and we’re getting close to playoffs. It’s time for us to start playing better.”

With six games remaining the regular season, co-captain Joe Arntsen thinks the team needs more consistency in their game.

“I think this last month we’ve been kind of one and off,” said Arntsen.

“I think we need to get a little more consistency in our game. You know get back to that identity that we created throughout the year, (and) just when playoffs rolls around, you know we get rolling and play how we want to play.”

Forward Cole Shepard thinks this an important time to take big steps and not go in the opposite direction.

“So I think we can be better,” said Shepard.

“We struggled  a little bit over the past five games (prior to the 5-4 OT win on Friday night) here. But I think we’re still in a great head space,  (we’ve)got a great team,and yeah just got to take a big step here.”

Shepard believes that the Hurricanes can still catch Moose Jaw for fourth place and home ice advantage in the playoffs.

“I think that’s been our goal for a while now,” said Shepard.

“It’s just something to kind of keep the foot on the gas, and continue to be motivated game after game and you know they’re right there and home ice is obviously a huge advantage coming into the playoffs. We’re going to do everything we can and obviously tonight’s (Friday versus Regina) (the)biggest game of the year I think ,they’re right behind us, and we want to move forward and past Moose Jaw like you said.”

The Canes can officially lock up a playoff spot with a single point on the road in Calgary tonight.

Lethbridge currently holds down the fifth spot with 72 points, which is seven points behind Moose Jaw and six better than Regina going into tonight’s game.

 Both Lethbridge and Regina have a game in hand on Moose Jaw  going into Wednesday night action.