Broncos stun Tigers in shootout
The Swift Current Broncos returned from the holiday break with a memorable 4-3 shootout win over the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday. The Tigers had three times as many points in the standings heading into the contest, but the Broncos gave themselves a chance to win with three first-period goals over a 5:50 span.
Sergei Alkhimov scored the shootout winner and Isaac Poulter stopped five of six shooters as the Broncos ended a nine-game losing streak.
Poulter picked right up where he left off with 40 saves over 65 minutes to earn the win.
“Yeah it was really nice getting that first one out of the way for the second half,” said Poulter. “Hopefully we can keep rolling.”
It was the Broncos first game in 13 days.
“I feel like we really just needed that break to get the hockey off our mind and start getting ready for the second half,” said Poulter.
The Broncos earned the early lead when Tyler Smithies scored and then Aiden Bulych scored twice as both players had three-point periods. Ryan Chyzowski had scored to tie the game 1-1 as the Broncos led 3-1 after one period.
Chyzowski scored the only goal of the second period and Dylan Plouffe scored with 19 seconds left and the goalie pulled to force overtime.
“I thought we had a lot of compete. We struggled a little bit with some plays, a little too fancy. I think we really just worked hard out there and it was a hardfought W,” said Poulter.
The Broncos are now 1-2 in shootouts this season. Poulter stopped the final four shooters after Chyzowski had scored on the second attempt.
“I just make sure I’m patient and not trying to make the first move, let the player make the first move,” he said of his shootout approach.
Poulter didn’t seem to have any issues shaking the holiday rust off.
“It was a little rough the last couple practices just getting back into it. But I felt pretty good out there tonight.”
He said that goaltenders can struggle with a lengthy layoff.
“I feel like it is a little bit tougher since you can’t really skate as a goalie when you go home. It was pretty nice seeing 40 shots tonight. It’s just nice getting back into it with that.”
Saturday, the Broncos were unable to duplicate that success in a 6-0 loss to the host Lethbridge Hurricanes, the seventh time the Broncos have been shutout this season.
Bryan Thomson made 24 saves in the shutout. Reece Klassen took the loss with 31 saves on 37 shots.
Jett Jones scored twice for the Hurricanes, while Justin Hall, Noah Boyko, Trevor Thurston and Logan Barlage also found the back of the net. Barlage, a Broncos former first-round draft pick, finished with four points.
The Broncos will play three games in as many days this weekend when they host the Regina Pats on Friday to open the daunting stretch. They will also visit the Pats on Saturday.
The Broncos will host the Seattle Thunderbirds on Sunday at 4 p.m.
“I think we just want to win as much as we can. That’s all we want to do is try and win every game,” said Poulter.
Bronco Bits: The Broncos announced a 2001-born forward swap last week when they sent Matthew Culling to the Prince Albert Raiders for Cole Nagy.
Nagy, a 6’6’’ forward from Saskatoon, had two goals and two assists in 25 games with the Raiders this season. He compiled 65 points and 48 penalty minutes with the Saskatoon Blazers in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League last season.
Culling had three goals and one assist in 31 games this season, his second in Swift Current after being acquired from the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Regina native finished with 14 goals and 11 assists in 99 games with the Broncos.