Broncos skate to 5-2 win over Hurricanes
Swift Current, SK – With the first half of the season nearly done, the Hurricanes are looking for some early Christmas magic as they try and get back in the win column. In their first meeting, Lethbridge had a 3-0 lead on Swift Current before the Broncos stormed back in the 3rd to win in OT, a result the Hurricanes want to change this time, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Tonight’s Starters: G – Stuart Skinner, D – Nick Walters, Bryton Sayers, F – Dexter Bricker, Miles Warkentine, Carter Folk.
It was all Swift Current in the opening period as they pounded one shot after another at the Lethbridge Hurricanes goal. The Broncos opened the scoring at the 6:02 mark when Andreas Schumacher put one behind Stuart Skinner. Despite being outshot 19-3 through the opening 20 minutes, Skinner did come up with some key saves. Skinner robbed Coda Gordon and then flashed the glove from in close keeping it a 1-goal game. The Broncos would take a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes when Colby Cave fired a one-timer that found the back of the net.
The Hurricanes were fired up in the second with a couple of fights on the card, but a goal from Zane Jones (Giorgio Estephan, Lenny Hackman) at the 9:59 mark made it a one-goal game. Lethbridge was looking for the equalizer but Swift Current added to their lead with a pair of goals (from Coda Gordon and Jay Merkley) just 1:19 apart making it a 4-1 game. Lethbridge was once again outshot in the period 13-8 and trailed 4-1 after 40 minutes.
In the third, Lethbridge would turn over the goaltending duties to Zac Robidoux after Stuart Skinner, who was making his fourth straight start, stopped 28 of 32 shots. Lethbridge would spend time killing off penalties in the final frame. Dexter Bricker was given a double minor for high sticking and on the ensuring man advantage, Coda Gordon finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play to make it a 5-1 Broncos lead. Lethbridge would add a goal in the final two minutes when Taylor Cooper (Bryton Sayers) made it a 5-2 game, but the Hurricanes wouldn’t pull any closer as they dropped their third straight, 5-2 to Swift Current. Robidoux stopped 11 of the 12 shots he faced as the Hurricanes were outshot 44-18 in the game. Lethbridge was 0/2 on the PP, the Broncos were 2/6.
Tonight’s 3 Stars: 1 – Coda Gordon, 2 – Andreas Schumacher, 3 – Glenn Gawdin
For game summary, click here.
Up Next: The Hurricanes return home and prepare to host the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday night. It’s the 19 annual Canadian Tire/Global TV Teddy Bear & Toque Toss night. Game time is 7:00pm, the pregame show on Rock 106 with Dustin Forbes starts at 6:45.
