The Lethbridge Hurricanes have painted themselves into a corner and the Swift Current Broncos are closing in, one win away from advancing to the WHL championship.
Giorgio Estephan, the former Hurricanes' captain traded at midseason to Swift Current, scored two goals and added an assist Saturday to give the Broncos a 4-3 win and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference championship.
Estephan's second goal of the game and 10th of the playoffs, 6:41 into the third period, was the game-winner in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,890 in Swift Current. The Hurricanes will try to tie the series on home ice Monday night in Lethbridge and force a deciding seventh game Tuesday in Swift Current.
Igor Zudilov made it a one-goal game 18:01 into the third period, scoring on a Hurricanes' power play. Colby Scissons for Swift Current, and Brad Morrison for Lethbridge, each scored early in the third period. For Morrison, a former Prince George Cougar, it was his 16th goal in 15 playoff games. He leads the WHL in playoff scoring with 37 points.
The Broncos outshot Lethbridge 32-29 but had to withstand a 15-6 shot disadvantage in the third period. Stuart Skinner picked up his 11th win of the playoffs in goal for the Broncos.
Max Patterson of the Broncos and Zane Franklin of the Hurricanes traded goals in the second period. Tate Olson had two assists for Lethbridge.
The winner of the series will advance to the WHL final against either the Everett Silvertips of Tri-City Americans. The Americans beat the Silvertips 5-2 Saturday in Everett to stay alive in the Western Conference championship.
Juuso Valimaki scored a pair to lead the Americans and Patrick Dea made 35 saves in goal to preserve the victory.
Nolan Yaremko, Parker AuCoin and Michael Rasmussen also scorfed tfor the Americans. Connor Dewar fired both Everett goals.
Tri-City still trails 3-2 in the series, with Game 6 set for Monday in Kennewick, Wash. Game 7, if needed would be played Tuesday in Everett.
