The Swift Current Broncos now have a 3-0 stranglehold in their series against the Lethbridge Hurricanes after a 5-3 win on Tuesday night in Lethbridge.
Luke Mistelbacher led the way for the Broncos with his first career hat-trick, while Conor Geekie, and Josh Filmon added markers in the game. Broncos Interim Head Coach Taras McEwen said it was great to see that performance from Mistelbacher.
“The second half, he’s been a real important player,” he said. “Any time he finds some time and space to shoot, he can rip the puck. So, happy to see him get on the board.”
Mistelbacher’s first came just 37 seconds into the hockey game, and his second was a powerplay goal to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead before seven minutes even elapsed in the game. Although Dylan Sydor got the Hurricanes on the board late in the first and Sean Tschigerl tied it early in the second, shorthanded, the momentum was short lived.
Filmon restored the Broncos lead on a powerplay goal on the same penalty where the Broncos gave up a shorthanded marker. Mistelbacher’s hat-trick goal came a few minutes later, on an other powerplay before the Broncos made it 5-2 on their fourth powerplay goal of the contest from Geekie.
Brayden Edwards made it 5-3 in the third, but that’s as close as the Hurricanes would get in this one as the Broncos take a 3-0 series lead.
The Broncos powerplay was 4-for-4 at one point in the game, but ultimately ended 4-for-5. The penalty kill was 1-for-2. Reid Dyck stopped 28 shots in the Broncos net.
McEwen said for the most part, he was pleased with his teams play.
“Pretty happy with the overall efforts,” McEwen said. “Some of the scoring chances that we’re giving up, we’ll look to clean up tomorrow. But yeah, pretty happy with the effort.”
The Broncos will look to end the series on Wednesday night back in Lethbridge in Game Four. Face-off from Enmax Centre is at 7:00 p.m. with Redhead Equipment Case IH Broncos Hockey starting at 6:45 p.m. on Country 94.1 FM.