broncos hurricanes ramsay

Connor Sanvido scored the only goal of the shootout as the Swift Current Broncos beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 3-2 on Tuesday night. The win ended Swift Current's seven game road losing streak.

“We had lots of energy,” said Associate Coach Darren Evjen. “We created lots of opportunities. We weren't turning pucks over, we were making sure we got it deep in their end.”

Evjen felt it all started with strong play in their own zone.

“When we're defending well and we're not turning pucks over,” he said. “We're a good cycling team but we're getting pucks deep and giving that opportunity to start cycling and give ourselves chances.”

Their defensive play picked up in the last two games after allowing 24 goals on their five game US Division road swing. They held Edmonton to only a late goal and outshot both their opponents since returning from that trip.

“We made some adjustments in our own end and it's really helped us,” Evjen said. “We're not giving up the opportunities in the slot.”

The Broncos opened the scoring only 46 seconds in as former Hurricane Jay Merkley cut across the crease to slide in his 4th of the season.

The hot start didn't last long though as Lethbridge scored on only their second shot of the game at 5:07. Former Seattle Thunderbird Riley Sheen cut down the right wing and threw a hard backhand that beat Landon Bow ankle high before the Broncos goaltender could get his pad down on it.

The Hurricanes pulled ahead during four on four play when Dillon Heatherington missed a pinch and Tyler Wong found Brady Ramsay on a 2 on 1. Ramsay beat Bow over the glove and Lethbridge had a 2-1 lead after the first period despite a 13-8 shot edge for Swift Current.

The second period saw both teams get chances on the power play and both goaltenders make some solid stops. It took until 17:34 for the Broncos to pull even as Sanvido chipped the puck ahead to Colby Cave just as the captain was hitting the Lethbridge zone. Cave's shot bounced off Boes' glove and trickled in behind him for a 2-2 score.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the third or overtime. The Broncos had the better of the chances and outshot Lethbridge 41-31.

Bow gave his team a shot at the win with a diving glove save on Riley Sheen in the shootout.

“Bow got back to playing the way he can play,” Evjen said. “He played big in there... a lot of the shots he got pieces of and was trapping it.. the shootout the one save, wow, was highlight reel. He made a big save and gave us the chance to win the game.”

Sanvido scored the winner on a nice fake to his forehand. The puck actually slid under the net as Boes had bumped the post and lifted the goal up.

The Broncos went 0 for 2 on the power play and are 3 for their last 34 on the man advantage. They killed off the lone Lethbridge power play and have only allowed 5 power play goals in their last 27 penalty kills.

Swift Current is in Saskatoon on Friday for the first of a home and home series. The Blades make the trip to Swift Current on Saturday.

The win evened the Broncos' record at 8-8-0-1 and moved them into a tie for 4th place in the Eastern Conference.

Click here for the boxscore