The Swift Current Broncos (27-27-1-2) were held to just 18 shots on Tuesday, but scored five times on those 18 shots in a 5-2 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers (24-24-8-1).
The Broncos jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but not before weathering an early storm from the Tigers. A turnover behind the Bronco net just seconds into the game resulted in some scrambly moments for Swift Current, but they were able to escape the pressure without surrendering a goal.
Swift Current went to the power play 3:26 into the game and took their 1-0 lead. Connor Hvidston fired a shot on net from the high slot and it snuck through the five hole of Beckett Langkow. The goal came 4:15 into the game and snapped a 0-for-18 drought on the Broncos power play.
After killing off a four-minute power play for the Tigers, the Broncos would add to their lead late in the period. A strong forechecking shift saw the Broncos maintain possession in the Medicine Hat zone for an extended stretch before Owen Pickering found a loose puck in the right circle.
With traffic in front, Pickering sent a low shot to the net that went through the five hole of Langkow to put the Broncos ahead 2-0 with 1:19 remaining in the first. Swift Current carried the 2-0 lead into the first intermission with the shots 12-10 Tigers.
Reid Dyck was called for high sticking early in the second period but the Broncos got through the penalty kill as Cayden Lindstrom was given a roughing penalty with eight seconds remaining in the Tigers power play.
On the ensuing man advantage Pickering slid a puck across the slot to Josh Filmon who wound up for a one timer, blasting it past the glove of Langkow for his 38th of the season, pushing the Broncos lead to 3-0 just 4:09 into the second period.
Mathew Ward set up Grayson Burzynski five minutes later to further extend the Broncos lead. Ward had the puck on the Tigers goal line before being hooked down from behind. There was a delayed penalty coming up, but while lying on the ice Ward hooked the puck to the front of the net for Burzynski who picked up his fourth goal of the season 9:11 into the second.
The Broncos went to the penalty box for the sixth time late in the second period and the Tigers got on the board. Tyler MacKenzie got the last touch on a puck that was sliding toward the goal line to make it 4-1 with 48 seconds left in the period.
Swift Current got the goal back early in the third period with their third power play goal of the game. Ward picked up a loose puck between the circles in the Tigers zone and took a step out to his left before slding the puck to his right where Filmon fired in his second of the game 3:18 into the third.
Oasiz Wiesblatt would score with 5:23 left in regulation but the Broncos won the game by a 5-2 final score.
Swift Current now prepares for a two-game trip to Alberta when they meet the Edmonton Oil Kings (8-46-3-0) at Rogers Place on Saturday.