Hurricanes Edged 4-2 in Game 2 by Broncos; Trail Series 2-0
Swift Current, SK – The Lethbridge Hurricanes dropped a 4-3 decision to the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday in Game 2 of their first-round playoff match up.
The Hurricanes looked to build off a strong final forty minutes in Game 1 in hopes of tying the best-of-seven series at a game apiece. Lethbridge started where they left off to open Game 2 as they peppered Swift Current early and jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Leo Braillard ripped home his first post-season goal just 3:22 into the game; Tristen Doyle and Joe Arntsen earned the assists on the go-ahead goal. The ‘Canes continued to work the Broncos down low and generated scoring chances near the net, but Reid Dyck – who had a 33-save shutout in the first game – stood tall to keep it a one-goal game. The Broncos had a power play late in the frame when the Hurricanes were assessed a too-many men penalty. Swift Current generated a pair of great chances to tie the game, but Harrison Meneghin made a handful of great saves to preserve the lead after twenty minutes of play. Lethbridge was outshot 11-10 in the first period.
Lethbridge continued to carry the play early in the second period as they kept Swift Current at bay. The ‘Canes had a great chance to double their lead in the first five-minutes on a partial breakaway by Braillard, but he was stopped by Dyck with the left pad to keep it a 1-0 Lethbridge lead. Lethbridge had their first power play of the game and kept pressing with their best chance on a back-door look for Hayden Pakkala who rifled a shot wide of the net. Swift Current had their third man advantage late in the period and pulled even on a rebound goal by Josh Filmon who buried his first of the series to make it a 1-1 game; Connor Hvidston and Luke Mistelbacher picked up the assists on the goal. Just under three-minutes later, the Hurricanes pulled back in front as Sean Tschigerl scored his second career playoff goal on a partial breakaway banging in his own rebound after his first look was stopped by Dyck to give the ‘Canes the lead back 2-1 after forty minutes of play; Braillard earned the lone assists on the goal. Shots were even 13-13 in the second period.
In the third, the Hurricanes appeared to make it a 3-1 lead when Pakkala buried a rebound passed Dyck, but the goal was waived off to keep it a one-goal game. Shortly after, the Broncos tied the game just 2:38 into the frame as Ryan McCleary buried a shot over the glove of Meneghin to make it 2-2. Just under three-minutes later, Swift Current pulled ahead with a power play goal as Connor Hvidston cashed in a rebound to make it a 3-2 Bronco lead; Mistelbacher and Clarke Caswell earned the assists on the goal. The Hurricanes pulled the goaltender with just over two-and-a-half minutes left in the game in hopes of finding a tying goal, but Conor Geekie would find the empty-net from his own zone with 2:14 left in the game to make it 4-2. Lethbridge pulled the goaltender again and struck to make it a one-goal game again when Dyck attempted an empty-net goalie-goal but fanned on the shot and Pakkla pounced to bury the puck to make it 4-3 for the unassisted goal. The ‘Canes pulled the goaltender for a third time in the final minute, but couldn’t find an equalizer as the Broncos held on for the 4-3 win.
The Hurricanes were outshot 36-32 in the game by the Broncos. Lethbridge went 0/2 on the power play while Swift Current was 2/4 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Broncos – #21 Connor Hvidston (1 goal, 1 assist)
2) Broncos – #24 Josh Filmon (1 goal)
3) ‘Canes – #28 Leo Braillard (1 goal, 1 assist)
The loss for the Hurricanes was their 11th straight post-season loss dating back to the 2019 WHL Playoffs while it was the fourth-straight playoff loss to the Broncos. Swift Current held serve on home-ice advantage as they took a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven playoff series.
The series will now shift to Lethbridge as the Hurricanes 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.
