The Swift Current Broncos defeated the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 to take a 2-0 series lead on Saturday, March 30, 2024. (Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale

Broncos take 2-0 series lead over Hurricanes with 4-3 win

Mar 31, 2024 | 9:38 AM

SWIFT CURRENT, SK – The Lethbridge Hurricanes now trail the Swift Current Broncos 2-0 in their first round playoff series after a 4-3 loss on Saturday, March 30.

In the first period, the Hurricanes struck first on the scoreboard, with Leo Braillard wiring home a feed from Noah Chadwick at the faceoff circle. Joe Arntsen got the second assist on the goal.

The Hurricanes managed to kill off a too many men penalty in the period to finish the frame at a 1-0 score, while Harrison Meneghin stopped all 11 shots he faced.

In the second period, the Hurricanes got into some penalty trouble, with Braillard being called for two penalties, including a coincidental minor, Landen Ward getting his own coincidental, and a tripping penalty from Luke Cozens.

The Hurricanes successfully killed of Braillard’s penalty, but on Cozens’ minor, Josh Filmon tied up the game at the 14:24 mark.

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Just under three minutes later, Sean Tschigerl got a breakaway and after a few dekes, manages to squeeze the puck past Reid Dyck to make it 2-1. Braillard nabbed his second point of the game on the assist, and the second period ended with a 2-1 score.

In the third period, it appeared that the Hurricanes scored early when Carter Dereniwsky tipped down a shot and Hayden Pakkala buried the rebound. However, the goal was waved off when a replay showed Dereniwsky batted down the puck with a high stick.

Shortly after, the Broncos tied up the game again with a goal from Ryan McCleary. Soon after that, following a penalty to Noah Chadwick, the Broncos took the lead when Connor Hvidston collected a rebound and put it past a sprawled-out Meneghin nine seconds into the man-advantage.

The Hurricanes pulled Meneghin later in the game to get the extra attacker, but Connor Geekie fired a shot down the ice into the open net to make it 4-2. Hayden Pakkala would add another goal for the Hurricanes just four seconds later off the faceoff, but the Broncos held on for the 4-3 victory.

The series will now head to Lethbridge for games three and four at the ENMAX Centre on Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3.

Read more local sports at Lethbridge News Now.

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