The Swift Current Broncos have won back-to-back games for the first time this season after a 3-2 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday night.
The two clubs traded goals in the first period, started by Ryder Ritchie for the Raiders at the 3:27 mark of the first period. Connor Gabriel responded for the Broncos before Brayden Dube gave the Raiders the lead back. But that was only for a few minutes as Clarke Caswell finished off a tic-tac-toe play from Tyson Laventure and Mat Ward.
While the game was tied 2-2, the Broncos were outshot 22-13 through 40 minutes of play, and Assistant Coach Taras McEwen said
“It was just one of those games where you just have to really defend well, be on the right side of pucks, and take advantage of their mistakes,” McEwen said. “They’re still a young team, they make some mistakes, so you have to take advantage of that and I thought we did a better job of that in the third.”
In the third, shots were even 11-11, and the Broncos were the ones who took their first lead of the game on just their second opportunity on the powerplay as Mat Ward got the puck at the side of the net, spun in front and tucked the puck by Chase Coward to give Swift Current the 3-2 lead.
The Broncos held on in this contest for the win, improving their record to 6-6-1-0 on the year. With it not only being their first back-to-back wins on the year, it was also their second straight one goal victory.
“Playing in tight games is important for our group,” McEwen said. “Learning how to win in tight moments with the net empty with three minutes left, so a lot of good lessons that way in learning how to manage the game in the last 10 minutes of the game and I thought we did a good job of that.”
The Broncos will remain at home for another game as the Seattle Thunderbirds come to town on Friday before another meeting with the Raiders on Saturday.