Canes pushed to brink of elimination after Game 3 loss

By Lethbridge Herald on April 2, 2024.

Lethbridge Hurricanes Will Sharpe and Braeden Wynne attempt to squeeze Conor Geekie of the Swift Current Broncos from the puck during Game 3 of their WHL playoff series Tuesday night at the Enmax Centre. Herald photo by Justin Seward

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald –

The Swift Current Broncos have taken a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Lethbridge Hurricanes after a 5-3 win in Game 3 of their first round playoff match up on Tuesday night at the Enmax Centre.

“It wasn’t easy at all, we made it harder (than) it needs to be … with some of the penalties we took,” said Bill Peters, Hurricanes head coach.

A major factor in the game was that the Canes surrendering four powerplay goals on five chances to the Broncos.

“Yeah we couldn’t get a hold of it, said Peters, on the momentum being killed for the Hurricanes after letting those powerplay goals in.

“They scored early and then went 4-for-4 on their first four and a couple of them, I don’t know if we need to take penalties in those scenarios. We’ve been a discipline team all year and we’re going to have to find it again (tonight).

Peters thinks their start will be important in keeping this series alive in tonight’s Game 4.

“I didn’t think we were great out of the gate here tonight, so our start’s going to be important (tonight),” said Peters.

Forward Dylan Sydor thought the team came out flat.

“ (In)Game 1 and Game 2 we had a little bit of jump at the beginning,” said Sydor.

“But coming out flat like that, going down two quick ones, it’s always hard. You’re  kind of chasing the game after that, trying to battle your way back, so we need a better start tomorrow.”

A Luke Mistelbacher wrist shot from the point found its way past Harrison Meneghin to open the scoring for the Broncos just 37 seconds into the game from Clarke Caswell and Conor Geekie.

Mistelbacher struck again but this time on the powerplay 6:40 into the first period from Owen Pickering and Ty Coupland to give Swift Current a 2-0 lead.

Dylan Sydor got the Canes on the board with his first of the postseason with 2:15 left in the first period from Sean Tschigerl.

Tschigerl tucked the puck past Broncos goalie Reid Dyck to tie the game at 2 from Joe Arntsen just 1:03 into the middle frame.

Josh Filmon scored 35 seconds later to give the Broncos a 3-2 lead from Connor Hvidston on the powerplay.

Mistelbacher wristed in his hat trick goal 8:05 into the second on the powerplay from Pickering and Hvidston to  double the Broncos lead.

Geekie made it 5-2 15:18 into second from Caswell and Mathew Ward.

Brayden Edwards cut the Broncos lead to 5-3 7:43 into the third period on the powerplay from Miguel Marques and Noah Chadwick.

The Broncos went 4-for-5 while the Hurricanes went 1-for-2 on the powerplay.

The Hurricanes, with the loss, are on the verge of being swept for the third straight season if they don’t win Game 4 tonight.

Game 4 is tonight at the Enmax Centre.

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