Hurricanes Edge Broncos 2-1 in Overtime
Swift Current, SK – The Lethbridge Hurricanes earned their third straight victory on Friday with a 2-1 overtime win in Swift Current against the Broncos at the InnovationPlex.
The Hurricanes began a five-game road trip with their final visit to Swift Current to face the Broncos. Newcomer Caden Price made his ‘Canes debut in the game on a pair with Logan McCutcheon on the Hurricanes blueline. It was a feeling out process in the opening period between the two former divisional rivals. Lethbridge had a good early look when Leo Braillard ripped a shot from the right-wing but was turned aside by Broncos netminder Reid Dyck to keep it scoreless early. Swift Current pushed back and had a great look in front of the net by Jaxen Gauchier who was stymied at the side by Jackson Unger as the game was scoreless after one period of play. Lethbridge was outshot 13-9 in the first period.
Lethbridge had a flurry of chances early in the middle frame to open the scoring with the best look coming for Luke Cozens who was set up in front of the net by Trae Johnson, but Cozens hit the goal post on the glorious chance. The Hurricanes opened the scoring at the 9:21 mark when Vojtech Port had a point shot deflect off a defender and through the legs of Reid Dyck to make it a 1-0 lead; Johnson and Cozens earned the assists on the goal. The game opened up in the final five minutes with the teams trading chances including a sequence where Kooper Gizowski and Noah Chadwick both had point-black shots blocked by the Broncos late in the frame as the ‘Canes held the one-goal lead after forty minutes. Lethbridge outshot Swift Current 15-9 in the second period.
In the third period, the Broncos had a power play at the midway point of the frame and with the extra man, Swift Current pulled even in the game. Parker Rondeau was credited with a goal at the 11:22 mark after a goalmouth scramble in which the play was reviewed and deemed a goal to make it a 1-1 game; Grayson Burzynski and Trae Wilke earned the assists on the equalizer. The Hurricanes came close to a go-ahead goal on a power play of their own as they pressed keeping the Broncos hemmed for a full two-minutes but could not solve Dyck as the game went to overtime tied at 1-1. The Hurricanes held the edge in shots 8-7 in the third period.
In overtime, the teams combined for just three shots on goal. Lethbridge had an early look in the extra session when Price nearly buried the winner for the ‘Canes but Dyck made a save with the arm to keep the game going. Late in the overtime, the Hurricanes had a two-on-two rush which saw Kooper Gizowski cut to the middle rip home the game-winning goal with 4.7-seconds left to give Lethbridge the 2-1 victory; Tristen Doyle and Logan McCutcheon earned the assists on the game-winner.
The Hurricanes outshot the Broncos 34-30 in the contest. Lethbridge went 0/3 on the power play while Swift Current was 1/2 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #35 Jackson Unger (29-saves)
2) Broncos – #30 Reid Dyck (32-saves)
3) ‘Canes – #15 Kooper Gizowski (1 goal)
The win for the Hurricanes improved their road record to 7-11-0-1 on the season as they lifted to 3-1-0-0 in their last four road games. Lethbridge’s overall record improved to 22-14-1-1 on the season. The ‘Canes end the season series against the Broncos with a 3-1-0-0 record while the victory improved their record to 11-3-0-0 against the East Division.
The Hurricanes will continue their five-game road trip in Moose Jaw against the Warriors at 6:00pm MT. Lethbridge will return to the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Wednesday, January 22nd when they welcome the Regina Pats at 7:00pm. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Yates Memorial Theatre or VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca.
