The Swift Current Broncos (12-13-0-0) were even with the Lethbridge Hurricanes (16-11-0-1) through 20 minutes, but a four-goal second period was the difference as the Broncos dropped a 7-2 game.
The Hurricanes took the lead early following a turnover inside the Broncos zone. Jett Jones intercepted a pass and worked the puck down to Tyson Zimmer in the left circle. Zimmer had his eyes on Tyson Laventure across the ice, but fired a shot through the five hole of Reid Dyck 3:23 into the game.
Swift Current responded just a few minutes later to tie the game. Clarke Caswell had the puck on the goal line and found Grayson Burzynski in the slot. After taking the pass, Burzynski fired and beat Harrison Meneghin glove side with his first goal of the season.
The game didn’t stay tied for long as Lethbridge quickly regained their lead. Brayden Edwards’s pass in the slot of the Broncos zone was blocked, but deflected to Laventure in the left circle. Laventure then slid the puck across the crease to Tristan Zandee who tapped it into the open goal to give Lethbridge a 2-1 lead 2:38 after the Broncos tied the game.
After killing off a penalty the Broncos went to their first power play of the game when Lethbridge was called for too many men. Just 27 seconds into the man advantage, Josh Filmon’s shot deflected to the top of the crease and Raphael Pelletier chopped it in, tying the game at two late in the first period.
The two teams went into the intermission tied at two with the shots 9-7 Hurricanes. The Broncos began the second period on the penalty kill and the Hurricanes took advantage. Dyck stopped Cole Shepard’s shot from the left circle, but Jones banged in the rebound to put Lethbridge up 3-2 just 33 seconds into the period.
From there things snowballed for the Broncos had they had a difficult time generating offence for the entirety of the middle frame. The Hurricanes added to their lead with goals at 5:43 and 10:02 off the sticks of Zimmer and Shepard.
In the final minutes of the period the Broncos went to a 52 second five-on-three power play, but couldn’t cut into the Hurricanes lead before the penalties expired and Lethbridge added to their lead. Chase Pauls came out of the penalty box just as the puck was rimmed around the Hurricanes zone and scored on a breakaway with 26 seconds remaining in the period.
Swift Current was outshot 20-2 in the second period and went into the intermission down 6-2.
Joey Rocha took over in net for the Broncos in the third period, and turned aside nine of 10 shots sent his way, including a paddle save on an open-net chance for Edwards on a late Hurricanes power play.
The Broncos outshot Lethbridge 15-10 in the third period, but weren’t able to cut into the Hurricanes lead as they fell 7-2.
The team now has a quick turnaround as they host the Calgary Hitmen (13-7-3-1) Wednesday night. Face-off from InnovationPlex is at 7:00pm with Living Sky Casino Broncos Hockey starting at 6:30pm on The Eagle 94.1 FM.