The Humboldt Broncos split the home and home matchup against the Nipawin Hawks this weekend, and in doing so, endured their first loss of the season.
Friday night’s matchup in Nipawin was certainly their toughest test of the season, but the Broncos found a way to secure a passing grade and remained undefeated with a 3-2 victory over the Hawks.
In the first installment of the playoff rematch from their Round-1 opponent, whom the Broncos dispatched last spring, everyone knew the Hawks would be looking for redemption. To make matters even more difficult, the Broncos dressed 13 players that have never played a Jr. A game in the tight and hostile confines of the Centennial arena, while also missing three defensemen to injury, and the team’s top goal scorer. Sstill, they found a way.
For the 6th straight game, the Broncos scored the game’s opening goal.
Spencer Bell delivered a nice chip off the neutral zone glass that sent Ty McKay into the attacking end. McKay then fired a cross crease pass to Spencer Hughes who scored his first career goal as a Bronco for a 1-0 lead. The assist by McKay was also his first career Bronco’ point.
The Hawks tied the game in the second frame off the stick of Evan Forrest for his team leading 4th goal, but once again momentum was quickly taken back by the Broncos.
Midway through the second, the Broncos were put on a 5-on-3 powerplay where Ben Costantino sent a cannon of a slapshot, beating Damon Cunningham and knocking the water bottle off the net in the process to regain a one-goal lead. This was Costantino’s third goal in his last two games.
The Hawks, who wouldn’t back down, tied the game at two when their captain, Maguire Ratzlaff’s one-timer hit a Bronco shinpad and barely snuck past the goal line of Ben Motew’s net.
Pat Lanthier, whose been one of the most consistent Broncos all season, but has yet to score, (6 assists in 5 games) proved to be the hero as he recovered a loose puck in the Hawks’ end and slid home a backhand through a screen for the game-winning goal.
The Hawks pulled the goalie with 2:30 left in the game and had the Broncos pinned in their own zone with relentless puck-pursuit and pressure, firing shot after shot towards the net. However, Ben Motew was brilliant, helping the Broncos lock down the victory. Overall Motew turned aside 28 of 30 for his 5th straight win of the season.
On Saturday night, The Nipawin Hawks handed the Broncos a 3-2 overtime loss at the Elgar Petersen Arena. After the Broncos outscored their opponents 37-9 in the first six games of the year, The Hawks were able to hold the Broncos to their lowest goal output of the season and their special teams proved to be the difference maker.
Just like they have in every game prior, the Broncos scored the game’s opening goal on a highlight of the night effort from Connor Thue who netted his third of the season and his 8th point in three games this week. They took a 1-0 lead into the second period, where things started to shift in favour of the visitors.
In the second frame, the Broncos didn’t seem to have the same gusto, only able to muster up 9 shots thought the 20 minutes. The special teams of Nipawin also made Humboldt pay. After allowing a shorthanded goal to Hudson Cameron that tied the game at one apiece, the Broncos ran into penalty trouble. Humboldt took four unanswered penalties which resulted in Braxton Buckberger giving the Hawks a 2-1 lead.
This was the first time this season that the Broncos have trailed in a game.
The third period was easily the best for the green and gold, returning to their accustomed high-octane style of play and putting pressure down in the Hawks zone.
Eight minutes into the period, Matthew Van Blaricom tied the game on the powerplay as the Broncos regained momentum and outshot the Hawks 14-6.
Neither team was able to find victory in regulation so for the first time, the Broncos were heading to overtime.
Matthew Van Blaricom was awarded a penalty shot in overtime after being hauled down on a breakaway. Unfortunately, on his attempt, the puck looked to get stuck on the buildup of net-front snow, preventing him from making a play.
Just a few seconds later, the Broncos took a penalty sending the Hawks on another man-advantage, and Ronan Buckberger scored his 4th goal of the season to hand the Broncos their first loss of the year.
The Broncos are on the road to Yorkton on Tuesday, the Battlefords on Friday, before returning home against the defending champ North Stars on Saturday
With content from Discover Humboldt Staff
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