The Swift Current Broncos (12-12-0-0) ran into penalty trouble Saturday night, taking eight minor penalties in a 4-2 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings (10-15-2-0) at Westoba Place.
The Broncos started the game off on the right foot by scoring a power play goal shortly after puck drop. Clarke Caswell picked up the puck along the goal line and skated toward the crease before lifting a shot past the blocker of Carson Bjarnason, scoring his fifth goal of the season in his hometown just 2:23 into the game.
After failing to connect on another power play just moments after the goal, the Broncos eventually went to their own penalty kill. Nate Danielson had the puck at the top of the right circle and sent it toward the net where it was redirected by Brett Hyland and past the glove of Gage Alexander to tie the game.
Both goaltenders were strong in the opening period as the shots read 17-14 Brandon through 20 minutes with the two teams tied at one.
After some key stops by Alexander to start the second period, the Broncos eventually regained the lead. Raphael Pelletier banked the puck ahead on left wing for Mathew Ward, who quickly hooked it to the middle of the ice for Brady Birnie who was heading to the Brandon goal.
Birnie took the pass and lifted the puck over the glove of Bjarnason for his fourth goal of the year, restoring the Broncos lead at 2-1. The goal was then reviewed for a potential offside call, but eventually ruled a good goal as the Broncos lead 8:32 into the second period.
The lead held until late in the first period when Swift Current was called for two penalties in the same stoppage. The first was Ward for boarding in the Brandon zone and then as the puck went up ice into the Broncos zone, Josh Davies was the lone player taken out of a scrum to give Brandon a full two-minute five-on-three power play.
Alexander made a number of saves to keep Brandon off the board, but with 25 seconds remaining in the two-man advantage, Nolan Ritchie snapped a shot from the slot past the glove of Alexander to tie the game.
Three minutes later, Swift Current had a tough time clearing the puck out of their own zone and Hyland beat Alexander with a shot from the right circle to give Brandon their first lead of the night with 1:53 left in the period.
The Wheat Kings outshot the Broncos 21-11 in the second, taking a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
Swift Current received an early power play in the third period, but that was negated halfway through by a charging penalty to Davies. The Broncos were called for two more penalties in the third period, finishing with eight while the Wheat Kings received four.
Adam McNutt hit the post on a one timer from the blue line late in regulation before the Broncos pulled Alexander for the extra attacker. Despite some good looks with the extra attacker, Swift Current couldn’t find the equalizer before Ritchie hit the empty net to seal the 4-2 Brandon win.
Swift Current now has a quick turnaround as they return home before jumping back on the bus and travelling to Lethbridge to face the Hurricanes on Tuesday night.