Canes power past Broncos
Canes score three power-play goals
On a night when some familiar faces returned to the Enmax Centre, so did special teams for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
The Canes downed the nationally fifth-ranked Swift Current Broncos 5-2 in Western Hockey League action Friday night.
In the first game against the Broncos since the trade deadline deal between the teams that sent forwards Giorgio Estephan, Tanner Nagel and goaltender Stuart Skinner east, 4,893 welcomed the trio back with a pre-game welcome that included a video montage of highlight footage from their Hurricanes days.
But once the puck dropped the Hurricanes special teams went to work with three straight power-play goals that paced the hosts to a 4-0 lead after two periods.
The Broncos cut into the lead in the third as Estephan got Swift Current on the board 1:21 before Glenn Gawdin added a power-play goal that Estephan drew an assist on with a little over three minutes to go, but they got no closer as Lethbridge defencman Ty Prefontaine added a empty-netter with two minutes to go for the win that moves Lethbridge to 24-21-6-0.
“I thought our first two periods were outstanding,” said Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio. “We worked hard and did a lot of things right and obviously we expected them to press in the third period and they did. I thought we did a good job in the third period to hold court and find a way to win.”
Igor Merezhko opened the scoring 5:40 into the game before the Hurrianes got power-play goals from Jordy Bellerive, Tate Olson and Keltie Jeri-Leon for a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes.
The Hurricanes power play went 3-for-5 and killed off two of three Swift Current man advantages.
“The penalty kill had a big challenge tonight,” said Kisio. “Swift Current is one of the best power plays, they’re number one in our league right now. So I thought the penalty kill did a great job. Obviously, our power-play scoring was huge.”
As the three former Hurricanes were welcomed back Friday, former Broncos goaltender Logan Flodell earned first-star honours with a 40-save effort.
“I thought all those guys that came from Swift Current, (Logan) Barlage, Flodell, (Matthew) Stanley and (Owen) Blocker did a great job,” said Kisio. “They competed hard, they work. Stanley got in a fight (with Bronco Josh Anderson late in the second). It was an emotional game for those guys and I thought they responded the right way.”
Brad Morrison and Zane Franklin each had two assists for Lethbridge, while Merezhko and Olson each added an assist for a twopoint night. Skinner kicked out 31 of 35 shots he faced. The Hurricanes look to make it a 2-0 weekend when the Edmonton Oil Kings visit tonight at 7.
See Sunday’s Herald for Estephan’s thoughts on returning to the Enmax Centre.
Follow @DWoodardHerald on Twitter
In the ongoing tight battle for first in the Heritage Junior Hockey League South Division, the Coaldale Copperheads are home tonight for a key matchup.
The Copperheads host the Okotoks Bisons tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the Coaldale Sportsplex in a clash for first in the South.
Coaldale (21-9-2) and Okotoks (21-10-2) are tied for first, but the Copperheads have one game in hand.
After tonight’s game, the Copperheads have one more home game.
They host the Strathmore Wheatland Kings Feb. 10 at 8:30 p.m.
Fans are reminded to use their regular season tickets during the last two home games.