The Humboldt Broncos snapped the Weyburn Red Wings seven-game winning streak with a 4-3 overtime victory at the Elgar Petersen Arena on Tuesday night.
Kye Benoche opened the scoring for the Broncos after he corralled a bouncing puck in the slot and buried it for his fifth goal of the year.
Humboldt had several chances to extend their lead in first period, as they tried to take advantage of a Weyburn squad who were wrapping up a four-game, six-day road trip. Red Wings goalie Angelo Zol kept it a one-goal game making 14 saves in the opening frame.
In the opening minute second period, during the final seconds of a penalty kill, forward Brayden Skogstad bailed out Humboldt by blocking a shot inside of the Broncos crease. Moments later, Conner Miller stepped outside of the penalty box and proceeded to score on a breakaway, as the Broncos led 2-0.
Weyburn responded after Braigh LaGrandeur capitalized on a Bronco turnover in their own end, and scored, cutting the Broncos lead to one.
LaGrandeur’s goal ended Humboldt’s Brady Holtvogt shutout streak at 89:18 after the local product earned a shutout against La Ronge on Saturday in his season debut.
The Red Wings tied the game in the third period short-handed, as a Broncos turnover at the blueline allowed Jerome Marahaj to score on a breakaway.
Boris Kofman moved Humboldt back in the lead with his fifth goal of the year.
Midway through the third period, Weyburn used the power play to their advantage with Max Chakrabarti tying the game.
In overtime, Benoche found Oakley McIlwain with a deep pass that sent the defenceman on a breakaway. McIlwain made good with the golden opportunity scoring the overtime winner, giving the Broncos the victory.
Jacob Strizzi added three assists for Humboldt.
Holtvogt picked up his second win of the year with 38 saves. Zol made 43 stops for Weyburn.
The Broncos were 0 for 3 on the power play while the Red Wings were 1 for 2.
After the game, Assistant Coach Carter Hansen spoke with Rory McGouran and said it was a strong 60-minute effort from his squad, especially when it was even strength.
“Our team just runs better when it’s five on five, yes we will take the power plays, we’ve got guys that can put it in the net, but when we’re rolling four lines over and over again, playing five on five, that’s when we’re our best, so staying five on five is totally fine by us, it was working good for sure.”
Hansen credited the Red Wings penalty kill unit for creating problems for the Broncos on the extra man advantage.
“They put so much pressure on your guys, you have to make about three clean passes before you can attack or else it’s going to go down the ice.”
He added Tuesday’s performance from the Broncos is an indicator of how successful they can be on the ice.
“These guys played the right way, they deserved to win that game. You got to give Weyburn credit for getting that point, they played their hearts out too, but our guys deserved to win that game, that’s how they need to play, that’s the style, they didn’t play selfish, they played the right way, and they got rewarded for it.”
The Broncos are now off until Friday, when they head north, to meet the Flin Flon Bombers for a pair of matchups at the Whitney Forum, wrapping up on Saturday.
With the games in Manitoba, the pre-game show will begin at 6:15, the opening faceoff is 6:30.