Broncos open playoff series with road split in Moose Jaw
The Swift Current Broncos split the opening two games of the Eastern Conference semifinal series in Moose Jaw over the weekend as both teams were on the opposite ends of 7-2 victories.
Friday, the Broncos made a statement with a 7-2 win over the host Moose Jaw Warriors to open the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.
Josh Filmon and Brady Birnie both scored twice for the Broncos to open the best-of-seven series.
“I thought we did a good job on our forecheck being physical and forcing their D-men to make plays early. I think that led to a lot of turnovers and as you could tell by the score we did a pretty good job of capitalizing in transition. On top of that our goalie played really well,” said Filmon of the win.
“I think all three areas of our game, I thought we played well five-on-five and special teams, penalty kill and power play. The power play obviously we got one quick one and I thought we did a pretty good job killing for the most part,” added Interim Head Coach Taras Mcewen. “Five-on-five, I thought we did a good job in the neutral zone turning some pucks over and getting some pucks behind their D and limiting the odd man rushes against.”
The Broncos scored goals 38 seconds apart in the first period to take a 2–0 lead. Birnie opened the scoring with his first playoff goal when he found a loose puck at the top of the crease and tucked it home. The Broncos quickly doubled the lead when Filmon found a bouncing puck in the slot and whacked it into the top corner to score for a fourth straight game. The Warriors had a pair of late power plays in the period as they finished with a 15-13 advantage on the shot clock.
Both teams scored twice in the second period, beginning with a pair of Broncos goals to make it 4-0. Filmon scored his second of the game with a power play goal when he fired a puck off the mask of Jackson Unger and in. Birnie added his second goal when he got behind the Warriors and converted the Broncos fourth goal of the game in 32:57. The
Warriors responded with a late power play goal from Brayden Yager and then Jagger Firkus tipped home his third goal of the playoffs with 12 seconds remaining in the middle stanza.
The Broncos ended any comeback hopes in the third period with three unanswered goals, beginning with a Connor Hvidston goal as he knocked home a rebound off a shot that hit the crossbar. Mathew Ward notched his first goal of the playoff minutes later with a top-corner wrist shot and then rookie Ty Coupland scored on the breakaway to close the scoring.
Reid Dyck was outstanding in goal once again with 33 saves for the Broncos. Unger was chased after allowing six goals on 24 shots. Dimitri Fortin made seven saves on eight shots over 12:42.
Saturday, the Broncos dropped their first game of the playoffs in a humbling 7-2 loss to the host Warriors, who scored six goals in the second period to tie the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
“It was a 15-minute stretch in the second period where it got away from us,” said Mcewen. “There was a shorthanded goal, we knew how aggressive
they are on the penalty kill and obviously didn’t do a good job with a bad change and not enough urgency coming back. They get one on the power play and I thought we got a little passive after that. For us, we want to make sure that we’re aggressive, physical, especially in our D-zone. I thought we just gave them too much time and space, gave them some opportunities to build some speed in the D-zone. Their best players made some real high-end plays on a few of their goals. I just didn’t like our response after we got down a couple. They were just able to take over with some of the momentum. It’s a good learning game for us. We’ll make some adjustments from that game and we just have to learn from those moments.”
Defenseman Denton Mateychuk led the Warriors with one goal and five assists, followed by five points, including a hat trick, from Yager.
The Broncos opened the scoring again when Filmon scored for a fifth straight game, his sixth of the playoffs. The Warriors tied the game with a shorthanded goal from Yager.
The Warriors turned their fortunes around with six goals
in the second period. Yager got the scoring going with a power play goal and then Mateychuk scored 39 seconds later to double the lead. Firkus added to the Warriors lead and then Yager scored to complete his hat trick. The Warriors then added goals from Martin Rysavy and Kalem Parker, the seventh goal chasing Dyck after making 18 saves on 25 shots.
The Broncos scored the only goal of the third period with a Caleb Wyrostok shorthanded marker.
Joey Rocha stopped all 14 shots he faced over the final 27:20 for the Broncos. Unger rebounded for the Warriors with 25 saves.
The Warriors finished onefor-five on the power play. The Broncos were held without a goal on three man-advantages.
“I think we got away from what made us successful in the first one,” said Filmon. “We turned over way too many pucks in the neutral zone… That will be something we have to improve for sure. I think it’s going to be a key just to remind ourselves to be hard on their top players, bring that physicality and make them play a 200foot game.”
Games three and four were Tuesday and Wednesday in Swift Current. Visit swbooster. com for full series coverage. Game five will be Friday in Moose Jaw. Game six, if necessary, will be Sunday in Swift Current. Game seven is slated for Tuesday back in Moose Jaw.
The Broncos and Warriors tied the regular season series at three games apiece and the two teams had each scored 33 goals after eight meetings this season.
Mcewen said he was happy with the weekend split in enemy territory.
“If you would have asked that before we went in I think we would have been happy with getting the split. Obviously two very different games, just a blowout on each side. We’re happy to get the split and looking forward to our home game on Tuesday.”
The Broncos will look to slow down the Warriors top players such as Yager and Mateychuk.
“They have a real high end team, so there’s going to be times where they do get a couple quick ones or get some momentum on you and you have to be able to respond and get it back,” said Mcewen.