Hurricanes dialled in as series shifts to Lethbridge

By Lethbridge Herald on April 14, 2025.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes are up 2-0 in their second round playoff series with the Calgary Hitmen after a pair of road wins and are dialled in as they prepare to weather the storm from a hungry Calgary team with  the series shifting to Lethbridge beginning tonight.

“I think just live in the moment,” said Ryan Aasman, Canes assistant coach.

“I think the guys have done a good job of just worrying about the five-minute increments, or worrying about the next time out or just taking care of your own business.”

The Canes can’t afford to take off shifts against Calgary as the series goes along

“They’re too organized and they have too much offensive ability and they’ll play you hard,” said Aasman.

The Canes realize the Hitmen aren’t going to change their game plan.

“They’re a good hockey team that’s gonna come at you with the same structure,” said Aasman.

“I think they’re just gonna have a little bit more hump. Maybe they are settled in a little bit more to the series but I expect to see probably their best effort in Game 3 and Game 4.”

Aasman talked about what will be important to good starts for Canes in Games 3 and 4.

“I think it’s important to get our for check game back to where it has been,” said Aasman.

“I’d like to have the puck more than them in Game 3 and have a lot of energy from that.”

Forward Jordan Gustafson said what’s done is done.

“We’re looking passed that (the two wins) and we’re focusing on Game 3,” said Gustafson.

“We know that Game 3 is normally  the most important game of the series and we’re dialled in for this one.”

In order to turn the tides in their favour early and counter the Hitmen’s attack in Game 3, the Canes know they’ll have to play to their game.

“We know that they’re going to come out hard,” said Gustafson.

“We know that, but we just gotta stick to our game plan. We know that if we execute our game plan on any given night it gives us a really good shot to win against any team in this league.”

Discipline and their play defensively is what Brayden Edwards thinks they can build on.

“I think if we just stick to that we’ll be successful,” said Edwards.

“Obviously special teams have been a huge part of the series so far, so we’re looking to  just continue on that too.”

The Canes have held the Hitmen to a single goal in the series so far and Aasman was asked about how they’re keeping Calgary’s big guns such as Ben Kindel, who had Calgary’s only goal in Game 2, and Oliver Tulk at bay.

“We lose Doyle on the backend but we got guys coming into the line-up that have stepped up ,including (Grady) Pichette, and playing more minutes,” said Aasman.

“You can’t say enough about Jackson Unger and how he handles the game. His game management is outstanding, he’s so calm all the time, and just the way he plays the puck and how square he is to pucks and everything laying around the crease in tight. He sure makes really high- end chances feel not so dangerous.”

Aasman was happy with how the Canes played in the first two games

“We knew it was gonna kind of be low-event hockey and make the most of the chances that you get and you’re not gonna get a lot of it, and I thought the guys did a good job playing a good, responsible 200-foot game,” said Aasman.

Games 3 and 4 are tonight and Wednesday night at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

Injury update

Leo Braillard hasn’t played since Game 4 of the first round against Brandon after taking a puck to  the face, while defencemen Tristen Doyle has been out with a shoulder injury since Game 5 of the same series.

“I think they’re progressing well,” said Aasman.

“ We’re just gonna take it day-by-day and see if we can get them in as soon as we can.”