For the second time in as many years, the Lethbridge Hurricanes find themeselves on the outside looking in as the WHL playoffs begin.

The Canes struggled down the stretch of the season losing eight of their final 10 games.

On Friday night, the Canes hosted the Kootenay Ice for their final home game of the season, but the Ice proved to be too much for the Canes, winning the game 5-3.

Canes forward Cam Braes got his team on the board in the first period, making good on his team-leading 31 goals of the season.

The Ice battled back to take a first period lead 2-1 on goals by Steele Boomer and Brayden McNabb.

The game came down to special teams when the Ice would capitalize on three of its four power play opportunities, compared to the Canes who went one for five with the man advantage.

The Ice took over in the third period, scoring three times with goals by Kevin King, Drew Czerwonka and Matt Fraser.

Canes forward Austen Fyten commented after the game on his team’s performance, “We battled hard tonight, we gave up a few opportunities and had a few mistakes that cost us the game.”

Canes coach Rich Preston also said that missed opportunities and an inability to shoot more pucks at a nervous Kootenay goaltender Mackenzie Skapski were reasons his team was unable to come out with a win.

Fans at Friday night’s game were able to see the 2010-11 Canes awards recipients in a ceremony prior to the opening faceoff.

Braes won the award as the team’s top scorer, Mike Reddington as top defenceman and Fyten walked away as team MVP.

On the following night in Cranbrook, with a playoff birth no longer possible, the Canes hit the ice and were promptly handed a 7-1 loss.

Mitch Maxwell, Max Ross and Mitch Reddington played their final game for the Hurricanes on Saturday night as they are considered overage players.