Broncos stretch winning streak to seven games
The Swift Current Broncos extended their winning streak to seven games before a road loss in Edmonton on Saturday.
Friday, the Broncos, led by a four-point outing from Conor Geekie, defeated the host Red Deer Rebels 7-5.
Geekie scored a pivotal power play goal late in the second period to make the score 5-3 and then set up the final two goals to close out the win.
Luke Mistelbacher scored twice, including the eventual game winner early in the third period to extend his sixgame point streak while playing as an unlikely wingman to Geekie.
Mathew Ward added a goal and two assists, while Rylan Gould and Connor Hvidston each finished with a goal and an assist. Clarke Caswell finished with three assists and Josh Filmon also found the back of the net.
Frantisek Formanek, Samuel Drancak, Jhett Larson, Luke Vlooswyk, and Mats Lidgren replied for the Rebels.
The Broncos won the special teams battle with two power play goals on four opportunities. They killed off all three shorthanded situations, including a five-minute major to defenseman Ryan Mccleary.
Reid Dyck earned another win with 33 saves to improve to 20-6-2-0. Red Deer starter Chase Wutzke allowed four goals over one period of work. Rhett Stoesser made nine saves on 11 shots over the final two periods.
Saturday, the winning streak came to a sudden conclusion with a 4-1 loss to the host Edmonton Oil Kings.
The Broncos were hampered by penalty issues as they allowed three power play goals and finished one-for-three on the man-advantage.
Geekie scored the lone goal for the Broncos on the power play, his 36th of the season, to tie the game 1-1 early in the first period.
Ronan Woodward led the Oil Kings with a pair of power play goals. Gavin Hodnett and Ty Nash also scored for the
Oil Kings.
Joey Rocha took the loss with 21 saves. Hudson Perry made 26 saves for the Oil Kings.
The Broncos finished the weekend with a 3320-4-2 record, fourth in the Eastern Conference, but only three points back of the Medicine Hat Tigers for top spot in the Central Division.
“We still feel that there’s an opportunity here to catch Medicine Hat,” said Interim Head Coach Taras Mcewen. “All those points down the stretch are going to be really important. I’ve felt really good when we’ve had the opportunity to play some of the top teams that our guys are very focused and ready to play. I’ve really liked the size of our group and the depth of our group. We’re willing to bring physicality to our game and be hard to play against, that’s how we’ll have success here in the playoffs and going forward.”
The winning streak has the Broncos within striking distance of the Tigers and Moose Jaw Warriors.
“I think it was our most complete games that we’ve played in that stretch. Special teams is a topic for us that we want to be better in since post Christmas, an area where both power play and penalty kill have been better. I feel that our five-on-five play has been pretty good and one of our strengths of the last couple months. At times our penalty kill or our power play were struggling. When all three of those areas are playing well then we were able to get some wins.”
He said the team was playing with a new level of confidence.
“Yeah just confidence in ourselves regardless of the situation in the game. There’s a belief in our team that down one, down two, or up, we’re able to either come back or lock down games. I felt that, especially in Red Deer on the weekend, even though they outshot us in the third period, our ability to hit that switch and lock it down and make sure that we’re on the right side of pucks and defending well to finish off the game was really important to see. When you do have some success it’s obviously really good for just our team. I think our team understands how we have to play to have success.”
The Broncos were without import defenseman Jakub Dvorak for both weekend games. “He’s went home for personal reasons. We’re obviously supportive of him and his decision. He plans to join the team here later this month, but has taken a leave,” explained Mcewen.
After being named WHL Goaltender of the Week twice in February, Reid Dyck was also been named the WHL Goaltender of the Month.
“You can’t ask for anymore. I thought he was just really on top of his game,” said Mcewen. “I just feel that he’s a real calm presence back there. Obviously he’s still a big voice and leader in our dressing room and on the bench in games.”
The veteran netminder finished the month with a 9-0-1-0 record, a 1.81 goals against average, and a .931 save percentage.
Mcewen added that the whole team contributed to that award.
“I think it is a testament to our team defense and the way we want to defend here going into the playoffs.”
The Broncos are back at home this weekend to face the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday. The Broncos lead the season series with a 2-11-0 record. Geekie leads the Broncos with eight points against the Wheat Kings this season.
The Broncos will also head north to visit the Prince Albert Raiders on Tuesday. The Broncos have a 1-1-0-1 record heading into the final game of the season series, but have not faced the Raiders since a 4-3 shootout loss on Dec. 1.
Bronco Bits: Despite playing only 46 games this season, Geekie moved into 13th in WHL scoring with 83 points. He had 16 goals and 18 assists in 20 games since joining the Broncos from the Wenatchee Wild. The Rebels announced after Friday’s loss that the team had mutually agreed to part ways with head coach Derrick Walser. Former Saskatoon Blades and Regina Pats head coach Dave Struch was announced as the interim head coach.