Gennaro delivers a hat trick in double overtime, Broncos win 3-2
Flashback to one year ago when Glenn Gawdin scored the winning goal in triple overtime against the Regina Pats in Game 4 of their Round Two series. Today, the Broncos entered Game 4 of Round Two vs. the Moose Jaw Warriors and 20-year-old forward Matteo Gennaro played the role of hero as he lasered in the double overtime winner to send Swift Current to a clutch 3-2 victory to tie the series 2-2.
The 21-year-old scored the opening goal on a Broncos power play late in the first period. Teammate Giorgio Estephan banged away at the puck from in close and then the rebound went to Gennaro who then smacked it in by Warriors goaltender Brody Willms to make it 1-0.
Warriors forward Tanner Jeannot tallied his third goal of the postseason halfway through the second period on a Broncos delayed penalty call. Assists went to Brett Howden and Kale Clague.
Moose Jaw then held a lead as defenceman Jett Woo was credited for his first goal of the playoffs on a bit of a strange play. The puck was being whipped along the boards and Woo from the right end boards just threw the puck on net and it beat a screened Stuart Skinner.
In the third period, the Broncos power play went to work once again as Gawdin was positioned nicely in front of Willms to set up a screen for Gennaro. The St. Albert, AB product released a hard low wrist shot through the five-hole of Willms to draw the East Division foes at 2-2. It only took 1:22 of third period action for the Broncos to tie it.
Both teams pressed for the go-ahead goal, but for the second straight night, overtime was required to settle a winner. Shots on goal were 36-25 in favour of Moose Jaw after 60 minutes of play.
In the first overtime, Moose Jaw outshot Swift Current by a nine to five margin and the Broncos even found themselves shorthanded after an Estephan hooking penalty. The Broncos penalty kill was clutch when needed and survived it late in the extra frame but 20 minutes was played so both teams went into the intermission still tied.
It was a goaltending and defensive duel as neither team was giving each other an inch of space, fighting for positioning and every puck battle. With less than two minutes to go in double and overtime and a third overtime leering, Gennaro received a pass from Kaden Elder and wired it by Willms to seal the hat trick and win this absolute classic tilt for his team by a 3-2 score over Moose Jaw.
Skinner was outstanding in the Broncos crease, blocking 51 Warriors’ shots while Willms was stellar for the opposing Warriors, collecting 40 saves.
The Broncos penalty kill was terrific, going a perfect 5/5 while scoring a pair of power play markers on four tries.
These two teams resume battle on Friday, April 13th at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw. Puck drop is at 7:00pm MT. Game Six will take place back at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex on Saturday, April 14th. Season ticket holders have until 1:00pm on April 13th to purchase tickets for Game 6.
