The Swift Current Broncos (24-22-1-2) had a tough second period Saturday night, giving up three goals and also having one of their own waived off in a 4-1 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders (20-28-3-0).
Swift Current started off the game on the right foot, jumping out to a 1-0 lead just 34 seconds in. Ryder Ritchie tried to pass the puck across his own zone, but it was intercepted by Caleb Wyrostok.
Wyrostok took a few strides in toward the top of the right circle before firing a shot past the blocker of Max Hildebrand for his 16th goal of the season.
After killing off a Raider power play the Broncos would surrender the tying. Keaton Sorenson’s shot from the left circle was stopped by Reid Dyck, and Niall Crocker’s rebound try was blocked, but Harrison Lodewyk jumped on the second rebound and knocked it in, tying the game at one 10:13 into the period.
Late in the first, Sam McGinley was run into the boards behind the Broncos net by Hayden Pakkala, resulting in the Broncos receiving a five-minute power play. They weren’t able to capitalize before the period came to an end as the two teams went to the intermission tied at one, with the Broncos outshooting Prince Albert 9-4.
The Broncos had a tough time getting set up on the power play to start the second period, never really getting clear control of the puck in the Raiders zone until the five-minute power play was nearly over.
The penalty kill seemed to give the Raiders momentum as they scored a minute after it ended. Ryder Ritchie skated down the right wing before dragging the puck to the middle of the ice and fired a shot on goal.
The shot appeared to sneak through the five hole of Dyck and into the net, giving the Raiders a 2-1 lead at 4:04 of the second period. Four minutes later the Broncos went to the penalty kill and Prince Albert extended their lead.
Just 15 seconds into the power play Niall Crocker took a centering feed from the goal line and tapped in his ninth goal of the season, pushing the Raiders lead to 3-1 at 8:31 of the period.
A frustrating second period for the Broncos continued when they had a goal waived off. Adam McNutt lifted the puck high in the air from centre ice, and it dropped down right in front of Hildebrand.
He dropped to his knees to try and block it and cover it, but it bounced off his right pad and was sitting off to his blocker side. Clarke Caswell was driving to the net and tapped in the loose puck, but because the official was in the opposite corner, he lost sight of the puck and whistled play down before Caswell scored, negating the goal.
Prince Albert then added to their lead in the final minute of the period as Keaton Sorenson found some open ice in front of the Broncos net before taking a centring pass and firing it home to make it 4-1 after two period.
Swift Current came out with a strong effort in the third period, generating multiple scoring chances as they tried to cut into the Raiders lead. Hildebrand stood tall in net, turning aside all 12 shots in the third period as the Broncos fell 4-1.
Swift Current now heads east to Manitoba for a pair of games, beginning Tuesday night against the Brandon Wheat Kings (21-22-7-0).