Hurricanes Win Streak Ends with 6-0 Loss to Broncos
Swift Current, SK – The Lethbridge Hurricanes had their two-game winning streak end on Wednesday as they suffered a 6-0 loss to the Swift Current Broncos at the InnovationPlex.
It was the seventh meeting on the season between the Hurricanes and Broncos; Lethbridge entered with a 4-1-1-0 record against Swift Current in the previous six contests. The two teams came out with a ton of pace as the first period only had 10 faceoffs. The Broncos struck first on a defensive zone turnover and Josh Filmon wired home his 20th goal of the season to make it 1-0 just 7:22 into the game. Swift Current struck again just 2:32 later when Connor Gabriel buried his sixth on a partial two-on-one to make it 2-0 Broncos; Grayson Burzynski and Ryan McCleary earned the assists on the goal. Lethbridge had a power play midway through the period, but despite a few good chances including a look by Noah Chadwick the ‘Canes failed to cut into the Swift Current lead. In the final minute, the Broncos made it a 3-0 lead on Connor Hvidston’s 20th goal of the season as he slipped it under the pad of Harrison Meneghin on a breakaway with just 23.4 seconds left in the period as Swift Current held a three-goal advantage after twenty minutes of play. The Hurricanes were outshot 10-6 in the period.
Brady Smith started the second period for the Hurricanes after the Broncos scored three times on 10 shots in the first period; it marked the fourth time this season Meneghin was lifted in a contest. Swift Current peppered Smith in the second period holding the edge 16-11 in shots. The Broncos added to their lead on a goal-mouth scramble as Conor Geekie lifted home his third goal in two games on a third rebound to make it a 4-0 lead; Mathew Ward and Filmon earned the helpers on the tally. Swift Current added another just over six-minutes later as Petr Pavelec slipped home his second goal of the season beating Smith five-hole at the 12:27 mark giving the Broncos a big 5-0 advantage after two periods of play.
In the third period, the Broncos continued to pour it on as they struck again when Filmon potted his second goal of the game – and 21st of the season – after jumping on a loose puck to make it 6-0; Owen Pickering and Geekie were credited with the helpers on the goal. Swift Current continued to press but couldn’t add to their lead as they skated to a 6-0 victory, not before tempers boiled over at the end of the game between the two teams. The Hurricanes outshot the Broncos 11-9 in the third period.
The Broncos outshot the Hurricanes 35-28 in the game. Lethbridge went 0/1 on the power play while Swift Current was 0/3 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Broncos – #24 Josh Filmon (2 goals, 1 assist)
2) Broncos – #30 Reid Dyck (28-save shutout)
3) Broncos – #14 Connor Gabriel (1 goal, 1 assist)
The loss for the Hurricanes ended a two-game winning streak as they fell to 9-13-0-0 on the road this season while suffering their second-straight road defeat. Lethbridge fell to 23-20-3-0 on the season as they fell back to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Hurricanes return to the ENMAX Centre on Saturday to face the Calgary Hitmen at 6:00pm before embarking on a three-game East Division road trip starting Tuesday in Saskatoon against the conference leading Blades at 6:00pm MT. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.
