It was an unfortunate case of déjà vu for the Swift Current Broncos (2-6-0-0) Saturday night as a late goal in regulation by the Red Deer Rebels (7-0-0-0) saw the Broncos fall 4-3 for the second night in a row.
Swift Current got off to an excellent start, hemming the Rebels in their own zone for the opening 45 seconds of the game. It was a sign of things to come as the Broncos opened the scoring for the first time this season.
Connor Hvidston gained the Red Deer line before sliding the puck to a streaking Caleb Wyrostok on left wing. Wyrostok had a half step on the defenceman, and protected the puck on his backhand before pulling it to his forehand and stuffing it past Kyle Kelsey for his first of the year. Hvidston and Josh Davies were given assists on the goal at the 4:31 mark of the first.
The Broncos then received their first power play of the game at 6:09 and took just seconds to capitalize. Hvidston fed the puck across the slot to Josh Filmon who was parked in the right circle, and Filmon fired a one timer past Kelsey’s glove to extend his goal scoring streak to four, giving Swift Current a 2-0 lead 6:14 into the game.
Red Deer got a goal back just a few minutes later. After winning a faceoff in the Broncos zone, Kalan Lind took a shot from the high slot that appeared to be tipped on the way to the net. Gage Alexander made the save, but the rebound went up the slot to Jhett Larson who fired the rebound through the five hole to make it 2-1.
Josh Davies was denied by Kelsey on a breakaway late in the first period as the two teams went to the intermission with the Broncos leading 2-1.
The Rebels pulled even 8:41 into the second period as Ollie Josephson redirected a shot from Mats Lindgren past Alexander, scoring his first career WHL goal.
Davies was denied on another breakaway, this time shorthanded, trying to slip a backhand through the five hole of Kelsey, but the Rebels goaltender kept his team on even terms with the save.
The two teams were tied at two through 40 minutes with Broncos outshooting the Rebels 24-17.
The Rebels started ramping up the pressure in the third period, but the Broncos regained the lead. After Kayden Sadhra-Kang was able to stop the puck from sliding out to centre ice, he worked it over to Raphael Pelletier who skated down the slot and beat Kelsey glove side to put Swift Current up 3-2. The goal came 7:20 into the third and was Pelletier’s third of the year.
Red Deer continued to pour on the pressure, seemingly throwing pucks on net at every opportunity when in the Broncos zone. After an icing call against Swift Current, the Rebels tied the game.
Ben King won the faceoff and the puck was sent to Matteo Fabrizi at the left point. He took a few strides in before sending a wrist shot into the top corner, tying the game at three with 7:04 to play.
Alexander made a highlight-reel save off Kai Uchacz late in regulation, denying the Rebels forward with the glove on a chance at the top of the crease, but off the next faceoff Uchacz wouldn’t be denied again.
After a point shot that was blocked, the puck was caught up in skates in front of the net with Alexander trying to cover it up. It eventually slid out of the pile and came right to the tape of Uchacz who fired it into the open net, giving Red Deer their first lead of the night with just 2:27 remaining.
Swift Current went to the power play with 45 seconds left, and pulled Alexander for the extra attacker, but couldn’t pull even and fell 4-3 for the third consecutive game.
The Broncos now have a week of practice ahead of them with just one game on the schedule for next week when they welcome the Lethbridge Hurricanes (3-5-0-0) on Saturday.
Anounced attendance was 1,671.