The Swift Current Broncos (22-21-1-2) and Tri-City Americans (24-16-4-1) both received eight power plays Wednesday night, but the Broncos were held to one power play goal while the Americans scored five en route to a 6-1 final.
Tri-City’s first power play goal came early in the first period when Jake Sloan redirected a puck toward the crease that Reid Dyck inadvertently kicked into the net, giving Tri-City a 1-0 lead just 4:35 into the game.
After a Broncos power play was cut short by a penalty, Ethan Ernst took a shot from the right circle that deflected past the blocker of Dyck to push the Americans lead to 2-0 with another power play goal.
Late in the period the Broncos killed off a minute-long 5-on-3 sequence, but the Americans scored on the ensuing 5-on-4 when Sloan banged in a puck at the top of the Broncos crease as Tri-City took a 3-0 lead into the intermission, outshooting Swift Current 15-6.
Early in the second period the Americans power play struck again. Adam Mechura took a one timer from the left circle with just three seconds remaining on the man advantage as the lead was stretched to 4-0 on a fourth power play goal.
Swift Current got on the board with a power play goal of their own just a few minutes later. Josh Davies jammed away at the puck in the Americans crease, pushing the puck into the net. Tri-City argued that Tomas Suchanek was pushed into the net with the puck, but the officials reviwed the play and called it a good goal.
The Broncos started to get their legs under them and generate more chances over the remaining 11 minutes of the period. It culminated in a Broncos power play with just 10 seconds left in the middle frame and Swift Current thinking they scored just before the buzzer.
Sam McGinley was able to bank the puck off Suchanek from below the goal line, but the officials ruled that the buzzer sounded before the puck crossed the line, sending the teams to the intermission with Tri-City leading 4-1.
Tri-City would add a pair of goals in the third period, with Ernst scoring at even strength at 8:33 and Jordan Gavin adding a power play goal at 13:34, as the Americans pulled away at 6-1.
Tensions flared late in the game as frustration began to take over for the Broncos, but Swift Current received a 1:18 five-on-three, but couldn’t connect as the clock ran out.
Swift Current now looks to end their U.S. Division trip with a victory when they meet the Spokane Chiefs (9-32-2-2) Friday night.