Bring on Round 2
The turnaround is minimal, the but spirits are high for the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Less than 48 hours removed from their dramatic Game 7 win over the Red Deer Rebels in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs Tuesday night at the Enmax Centre, the Canes were back at practice Thursday afternoon.
After becoming the first Hurricanes team in franchise history to rally from a 3-1 series deficit and win, the Canes now prepare for their next history lesson, their second-round series against the Central Division champion Medicine Hat Tigers, the first time the two southern Alberta rivals have met in a playoff series since 1991.
It all starts tonight and Saturday in Medicine Hat with Games 1 and 2, 7:30 p.m. both nights.
“The players had the day off yesterday and the coaches put in the work,” said Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio. “With Medicine Hat, it’s a quick turnaround. I thought we had a really good day. We got on the ice for a little bit and started preparing. We talked about some different things we have to do to have a chance in the series.”
After their battle back from the 3-1 deficit and the Game 7 win in front of 5,200 rowdy fans at the Enmax Centre Tuesday night, the Canes ride a bit of momentum into the second round.
“After the big, exciting Game 7 with that crowd, that’s huge for the organization and having the city behind us like that is good,” said Hurricanes first-year defenceman Calen Addison. “We’re ready to go and have confidence going into the next round. We know Medicine Hat is a good team. They’re fast and skilled and we can match that with our speed, too. We just have to play our best game and we’ll be fine.”
The Hurricanes — 44-21-4-3 in the regular season — finished eight points back of the Tigers (51-20-1-0) for first place in the Central Division.
The Tigers are led by Chad Butcher and his 26 goals and 103 points and have 10 players who scored 20-or-more goals this season and five who topped the 30-goal mark.
Having faced the Tigers seven times in the regular season with Medicine Hat getting the edge in the series 43, it’s unlikely either side needs an in-depth scouting report on the other.
“They’re such a good hockey team, they’re skilled up front,” said Kisio. “They have so many offensive weapons and on the back end the can really move the puck and activate and they have a good goaltender. They’re a deep, deep hockey team and obviously did a good job in the first round, getting it over when they did. It’s a big challenge.”
The Tigers have had ample time to rest after dispatching the Calgary Hitmen in four straight in the first round, while the Canes were afforded two days between Game 7 against Red Deer and Game 1 tonight
Still, with the seven-game grind came a lesson.
“It was important for us to go through something like that,” said Kisio. “I thought our guys battled hard and experienced that. Especially our younger guys, they’ll be able to build (on it). But now it’s time to reset. We enjoyed it, but now it’s time to reset and get ready for Medicine Hat, which we know how big of a challenge that is.”
The round two battle begins for both sides tonight and Saturday in Medicine Hat before coming back to the Enmax Centre for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday, 7 p.m. both nights.
“It’s really tiring and hard on the body,” said Addison. “But there’s so much adrenaline built up within you for games and whatever injury you’re battling, it’s the adrenaline and the fans that help you get through that. Just being in playoffs, it’s a different environment than the regular season and you have to do whatever it takes to win.”
If necessary, Game 5 is back in Medicine Hat April 14 and Game 6 will take place April 16 in Lethbridge.
A seventh game will go April 18 in Medicine Hat.