Hurricanes Edge Broncos 3-2 in Overtime
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes returned to play on Wednesday with a 3-2 overtime win over the Swift Current Broncos at the ENMAX Centre.
The ‘Canes had a quartet of new players make their team debuts as Hayden Smith, Liekit Reichle, Ross Stanley and Tyson Laventure all suited up for the first time.
Swift Current had a strong start to the game as they kept Lethbridge without a shot for the first 11:52 of the game. The Broncos had a pair of early power plays in the early going of the game but the ‘Canes penalty kill kept them scoreless. Late in the period, the Hurricanes opened the scoring with Logan Wormald scored his sixth of the season with 17.6 seconds left to make it 1-0 Lethbridge after twenty minutes; Alex Thacker and Justin Hall were credited with the assists on the goal. The Broncos outshot the Hurricanes 11-4 in the opening frame.
The Hurricanes had two power play chances in the second period, but Isaac Poulter stood tall turning aside all 18-shots he faced in the period. The ‘Canes had a great opportunity to extend their lead on a two-on-one but Poulter robbed Yegor Klavdiev to keep it 1-0. Before the end of the period, Swift Current drew even as Josh Davies scored his first of two in the game to make it 1-1 after forty minutes of play.
The teams traded goals in the third period as the Hurricanes pulled ahead on a Poulter miscue as he misplayed the puck behind the net only to see Klavdiev bury into the empty-net to make it 2-1 on the unassisted goal. The ‘Canes kept pressing in the third outshooting the Broncos 9-2 frame. Swift Current pulled the goaltender for the extra-attacker and would draw even as Davies buried with forty seconds left in the game to force overtime.
In the extra session, the newcomer Laventure was sprung free on a breakaway but was stopped by Poulter but a slashing penalty was assessed on the play. On the power play, the ‘Canes struck to win the game as Wormald – after hitting a crossbar earlier in the sequence – ripped home his second of the game to lift Lethbridge to a 3-2 overtime victory; Klavdiev and Laventure earned the assists on the goal.
The Hurricanes outshot the Broncos 4-0 in the overtime and 35-20 in the game. Lethbridge was 1/5 with the power play while Swift Current was 0/2 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #18 Logan Wormald (2 goals, game-winner)
2) Broncos – #17 Josh Davies (2 goals)
3) ‘Canes – #9 Justin Hall (1 assist)
The victory for the Hurricanes ended a three-game losing streak to the Broncos as they improved to 1-3-0-0 this season against Swift Current. The ‘Canes improved to 13-13-2-0 on the season while lifting their home record to 9-5-2-0 on the year.
The Hurricanes begin a three-in-three weekend on Friday when they welcome the Prince Albert Raiders to the ENMAX Centre at 7:00pm. The ‘Canes will visit Medicine Hat on Saturday before welcoming the Edmonton Oil Kings Sunday at 6:00pm.
