The Humboldt Broncos fell into a daunting 0-2 hole in the first-round playoff series to the Flin Flon Bombers with a 4-2 loss on Saturday night, but you ask anyone inside that green and gold dressing room, this is still going to be a long series.
5-on-5, the Broncos had the Bombers exactly where they wanted them in Game 2. A relentless offensive-zone forechecking attack put pressure on Bombers blueliners. They scored the game’s opening goal. They had a lead going into the second period, and they had quieted an often impossible-to-mute Whitney Forum crowd.
Special Teams have been the Broncos’ back breaker. Humboldt needs to find a way to stay out of the penalty box as the Bombers have punished the Broncos, scoring 4 powerplay goals on 15 attempts through the two games, whereas Humboldt has gone unsuccessful in their 5 combined chances.
Kye Benoche was credited with both Broncos tallies in the 4-2 loss Saturday night for his first two career playoff goals. Flin Flon’s Ryder Ringor added a pair as well, including the empty-netter to seal the victory. Leighton Carruthers, who was unable to finish the game due to injury, scored his third powerplay goal of the series and Keefe Gruener rounded out the Bombers 4 goals with a 5-on-3 convert.
There’s certainly no sugar coating the difficult task of climbing back into a 2-0 deficit with the Bombers, but if the Broncos can first and foremost stay disciplined, combined with their ability to continually wear down the Bombers at even-strength, there’s absolutely no apparent lack in their confidence and belief that says it can’t be done.
As the saying goes, you’re never out of a series until you lose at home and the Broncos will return to the Elgar Petersen Arena for games 3 and 4 to tie up the series on Tuesday and Wednesday.