The Swift Current Broncos erased a pair of deficits to take a commanding 2-0 series lead with a 4-3 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday.
The Broncos won both home games as the Hurricanes suffered their 11th straight playoff loss despite leading 1-0 and 2-1.
The Hurricanes scored their first goal of the series 3:22 into regulation when Leo Braillard found the back of the net.
The game remained tight until late in the second period when Josh Filmon found a loose puck for a power play goal to tie the game. The Hurricanes quickly tied the game with a breakaway goal from Sean Tschigerl with 2:39 remaining in the middle stanza.
The Broncos tied the game early in the third period when Ryan McCleary snapped home a point shot moments after a Lethbridge goal had been disallowed due to a high stick. The Broncos added a power play goal from Connor Hvidston on a rebound chance on the half wall. Conor Geekie added an empty net goal with 2:14 remaining from well inside his own end, his second goal of the series. The game appeared over until a turnover allowed an easy tap-in goal for Hayden Pakkala with 1:38 remaining to make it a one-goal game.
Reid Dyck earned his second playoff win with 29 saves. Harrison Meneghin took the loss with 32 saves.
The Broncos finished two-for-four on the power play and are now operating at 50 percent after two home wins.
“That feels awesome,” said Hvidston of the two-win weekend. “We’re a very good home team, so looking into getting home ice in the playoffs was a big deal for us. To get the two wins at home is really big.”
The Broncos opened the playoffs with two home wins after finishing 25-5-3-1 at home in the regular season.
“We’ve had a lot of success in this building,” said Interim Head Coach Taras McEwen. “Obviously the fans and this atmosphere has been a huge part of that the last two games and at the end of the season. I know our guys love playing here. You can just feel it when you come out for puck drop and in warm-ups, the energy and electricity in here. It’s a big reason that our team’s had so much success here as of late.”
Game three will be on Tuesday in Lethbridge.
