
Broncos Storm Back in Third to Take 2-0 Lead on Hurricanes
March 31, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Swift Current Broncos News Release
Swift Current, Sask. - The Swift Current Broncos have taken a 2-0 series lead with a 4-3 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday Night at the InnovationPlex.
It was a back-and-forth game but the Hurricanes held a 2-1 lead through two periods. Leo Braillard scored early in the first to give the Hurricanes the lead, but Josh Filmon responded for Swift Current early in the second on the powerplay to tie the game. However, it only lasted a bit more than two minutes before Sean Tschigerl restored the Lethbridge lead.
Broncos Interim Head Coach Taras McEwen said they were a bit sloppy through the first 40 minutes.
"They were checking a little bit harder, they were a little bit tighter on us in our defensive zone abnd created a few turnovers," he said. "And I think that's just playoff hockey. I wasn't real happy with our start, I thought we just lacked a little bit of legs and they came out hard."
The third period turned to be the most entertaining of the contest, and the Broncos pushed hard and pushed hard early. At one point in the third, they outshot the Hurricanes 11-2 and McEwen said it was a big shift early in the third from a line that included Petr Pavelec, Dawson Gerwing, and Ty Coupland, that ended in a goal from Ryan McCleary.
"Once McCleary scored, I thought just the momentum, the energy in the building kind of switched," McEwen said. "We built off that and we're able to take the game."
Connor Hvidston scored a powerplay goal at the 5:30 mark of the third to give the Broncos their first lead of the contest.
The Hurricanes would pull their goalie Harrison Meneghin with a few minutes remaining and the Broncos would capitalize with Conor Geekie tossing one from his own end into the empty net to make it 4-2.
Immediately following that ensuing faceoff, a Hurriances dump into the Broncos zone was picked up by Broncos goalie Reid Dyck who attempted to shoot it out towards the empty net, but fanned, and Hayden Pakkala capitalized for Lethbridge to bring it back to within one with 2:10 to go in the game. The Hurricanes continued to push, but couldn't get another one to go as the Broncos earned the victory.
Dyck stopped 29 of 32 shots he faced in the game, while the Bronocs were 2-for-4 on the powerplay and the penalty kill was 2-for-2.
Games three and four of the series will go on Tuesday and Wednesday in Lethbridge.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2024
- Cougars Take 2-0 Series Lead with 7-4 Win Over Chiefs - Prince George Cougars
- Chiefs Battle Back Late, Fall 7-4 in Game 2 vs Cougars - Spokane Chiefs
- Broncos Storm Back in Third to Take 2-0 Lead on Hurricanes - Swift Current Broncos
- Mirwald Makes 53 Saves in Game 2 Loss to Tips, Tying Series 1-1 - Vancouver Giants
- Silvertips Even Series with 2-1 Victory in Game Two - Everett Silvertips
- Kelowna Evens Series with Wenatchee, Picks up 3-1 Win Saturday - Wenatchee Wild
- Lakovic Wins It in Overtime, Warriors Take 2-0 Series Lead - Moose Jaw Warriors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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