Hurricanes Blanked 3-0 in Game 1 by Broncos
Swift Current, SK – The Lethbridge Hurricanes opened the 2024 WHL Playoffs presented by Stringam Law on Friday with a 3-0 loss to the Swift Current Broncos in Game 1 of their first-round best-of-seven series.
The series marked the first time the Hurricanes and Broncos have met since the 2018 Eastern Conference Final which saw Swift Current win in six games. Lethbridge had a great start to the game as they controlled the opening minute in the Bronco zone and nearly opened the scoring when a Tristen Doyle point shot rang the goal post as the game stayed scoreless. Swift Current opened the scoring at the 8:25 mark when Caleb Wyrostok ripped a shot low blocker on Harrison Meneghin to give the Broncos at 1-0 lead; Ryan McCleary and Brady Birnie earned the assists on the goal. Swift Current continued to press and had a great chance to double their lead on a net drive by Connor Hvidston, but Meneghin stretched out his left leg to make a great pad stop to keep it a one-goal game. Late in the period, the ‘Canes were assessed a penalty and just 11-seconds into the man advantage, Conor Geekie redirected a centering pass into the net for his 10th career post-season goal to make it 2-0 after twenty minutes of play. The Broncos outshot the Hurricanes 13-5 in the first period.
The Hurricanes outplayed the Broncos in the second period outshooting them 9-5 in the middle frame. Lethbridge had a great chance early when Doyle walked in from the right point and ripped a shot, but Reid Dyck reached out to make a glove save. The line of Logan Wormald, Brayden Edwards and Dylan Sydor dominated generating scoring chances on every shift; Sydor had a glorious look on a back-door feed but couldn’t settle the puck for a clean shot. Lethbridge continued to outplay and out-chance Swift Current late in the second period, but the ‘Canes trailed 2-0 after two period. Shots after two periods favoured the Broncos 18-14.
In the third period, the Hurricanes peppered Dyck outshooting the Broncos 19-10 in the period. Lethbridge pressed early in hopes of cutting the lead to one when Leo Braillard cut to the net and was robbed by the Broncos netminder with the glove. Swift Current added to their lead at the 6:01 mark when Caswell buried his first goal – and second point – to make it 3-0. The ‘Canes kept pressing, but continued to get stopped by Dyck including a point-blank rebound in which he reached back to make a remarkable glove save on the goal-line to keep the Hurricanes off the board. Lethbridge pulled the goaltender late in the game and kept peppering the goaltender but couldn’t break the shutout as the Broncos hung on to a 3-0 Game 1 victory.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Broncos – #30 Reid Dyck (33-save shutout)
2) Broncos – #19 Caleb Wyrostok (1 goal)
3) Broncos – #25 Clarke Caswell (1 goal, 1 assist)
The Hurricanes trail the best-of-seven series 1-0 with the defeat in Game 1. It marks the 10th straight post-season defeat for the ‘Canes dating back to the 2019 WHL Playoffs while it is the third-straight loss to the Broncos in the WHL Playoffs. It was the first-time the Hurricanes were shutout in the post-season since Game 2 of their 2022 playoff series against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
The Hurricanes will face the Broncos in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series on Saturday at 7:00pm at the InnovationPlex. The ‘Canes will host Games 3 and 4 at the ENMAX Centre on April 2nd and 3rd at 7:00pm. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.
