The Lethbridge Hurricanes “can’t seem to find the back of the net,” said Hurricanes’ forward and third star of the game, Jamal Watson, following a 5-2 loss to the Saskatoon Blades, at home Saturday night.   

Throughout the game, there were plenty of chances for both sides with the Hurricanes registering 29 shots on goal and the Blades registering 33. Watson had several of his own opportunities, including two breakaways.
 “On the last one, I hit the shaft of his stick.  It’s there [the opportunities to score,] we’re just not getting the bounces that we need. We just need to keep working hard for them,” said Watson, shaking his head in frustration after the game.
Saskatoon opened up the scoring in the first period when Blades’ centre Brett Stovin chipped one past Hurricanes’ goalie Ty Rimmer for the first of his hat trick.
Halfway through the first period, the Hurricanes looked to capitalize on a three-minute two-man advantage, but couldn’t break the Blades’ defensive triangle. They registered only one shot on Blades’ goalie Andrey Makarov.
Hurricanes got on the board late in the first period when Canes forward Jay Merkley scored his first goal of the season, following a flawlessly executed give-and-go from Watson.
After the game, Merkley said he was relieved to have broken his scoreless drought, but added, “we haven’t been burying the opportunities. It is always nice to score, but as long as the team is winning, then that’s all that matters.”
With less than three minutes remaining in the first period, Blades’ forward and second star Jay Nicholls slapped one by Rimmer during a scramble in front of the net.
The Hurricanes continued struggling to find the net in the second period, while the Blades continued to throw the rubber at Rimmer, producing two unanswered goals by defenseman Mathew Pufahl and forward Brett Stovin.
“Four breakaways in the second period. If we had scored one of them, it would have been a one-goal game.  The first two goals we lost because we got out-battled in front of the net. We need to do a better job there, moving guys and getting under their sticks,” said a frustrated Rich Preston, Hurricanes head coach.
Even though the Hurricanes outshot the Blades in the third period 7-4, they continued to struggle to get the puck on the Blades’ net.
Late in the third period, Stovin split the Hurricanes defence for a clean breakaway and beat Rimmer over his shoulder for the Blades’ final goal. Along with a hat trick, Stovin was also picked as the first star. 
With just over a minute remaining in the game, the Hurricanes mustered up one final assault and managed to squeak one by Makarov for a final score of 5-2.
After the game, when asked about the missed opportunities, Preston shrugged his shoulders and said, “It was one of those nights that the bad luck carried over to the power play. All the chances we had in five on five, we just couldn’t put in the back of the net. It wasn’t for our lack of trying or our chances.”
The Hurricanes remain at the bottom of the Central division with three wins and six losses.
The Blades trail with four wins and seven losses in the Eastern Division.
The Hurricanes battle against the Brandon Wheat Kings Wednesday night at home. Puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre.