Broncos and Silvertips split series openers
There was little to choose between the Swift Current Broncos and Everett Silvertips during the opening two games of the 2018 Rogers Western Hockey League Championship Series over the weekend as the two conference champions split the two games in Swift Current.
The Broncos found themselves in an early hole in the best-of-seven series after a narrow 2-1 loss to the visiting Silvertips on Friday.
Silvertips star Carter Hart made 34 saves to down the Broncos in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,890 at the Innovation Credit Union iplex. The Silvertips improved to 8-0 on the road in the playoffs with the win in the first ever playoff match-up between the two teams. Stuart Skinner took the loss with 23 saves.
The Silvertips got the first power play of the contest and quickly took advantage when Patrick Bajkov wrapped a goal around the pad of Skinner in the first period.
The Broncos replied midway through the second period when Aleksi Heponiemi tipped home a Matteo Gennaro pass for his fourth goal of the postseason.
Connor Dewar restored the Everett Lead 1:49 into the third period when he tipped home a high point shot for the game winning goal as the Silvertips took control of the game in the third period.
Saturday, the Broncos scored four unanswered goals to tie the series at one game apiece after a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Silvertips.
Giorgio Estephan lifted a rebound into a partially open net 9:27 into overtime to lift the Broncos to the win and hand the Silvertips their first road loss of the playoffs.
“Coming into the zone, Beck [Malenstyn] made a good play to Matteo [Gennaro] in the middle,” explained Estephan. “He kind of poked it off the pad and I was just lucky the puck kind of rolled to me and I got to put it home. It’s definitely one that I’d say we’re pretty fortunate to be able to get that goal and this win.”
“Again I thought Everett played very well again tonight and they could very easily have won that game tonight,” admitted Broncos head coach Manny Viveiros. “No question, we were fortunate, but we were also very happy the way we responded and came back and battled. That’s something that we have been doing all season long, all playoff long and we just continue to keep working hard, working hard. This group really does believe and that’s the biggest thing. That’s the most important thing is you to got to be able to believe. Very proud of the kids.”
The Broncos fell behind 3-0 before erasing the deficit with three straight goals to force overtime in front of another sold-out crowd of 2,890.