Broncos use ferocious comeback to stun Warriors
The Swift Current Broncos kick started the second half of the 2017-18 regular season in stunning fashion, scoring four goals in the final 20 minutes to simply stun the Moose Jaw Warriors by a score of 5-4 in a shootout.
Moose Jaw wasted no time as soon as the game started, netting two goals within the first 1:33 of the game. Brayden Burke and Tanner Jeannot made it 2-0 Warriors before all fans were settled into their seats.
The Warriors power play went to work in the second period as Justin Almeida buried his 20th of the season from the slot and it was 3-0 Moose Jaw. Shots on goal were 20-10 through two periods of play and it didn’t look good for Swift Current heading into the final frame.
However, this squad never views themselves being out of a hockey game and a spark must have been lit as the Broncos went on a mission in the third period.
First off, Broncos forward Max Patterson tipped in his third goal of the season by Warriors netminder Brody Willms to make it a 3-1 game. The 18-year-old was positioned in front of the crease and deflected a shot from the point off the stick of defenceman Colby Sissons.
That was followed up by Broncos forward Kaden Elder sneaking one by Willms from the point for his seventh marker at the 6:29 mark, less than two minutes after Patterson’s goal and it instantly was a one-goal hockey game.
With the home crowd buzzing, Almeida briefly silenced the crowd of 2,644 in the stands by making a nice back-hand fore-hand move in front of Broncos goaltender Logan Flodell to place the Warriors ahead 4-2.
Time was winding down and with less than four minutes on the clock, Calgary Flames prospect and Broncos captain Glenn Gawdin ignited his team and the crowd after depositing his 32nd of the season to get Swift Current back in striking distance. Sahvan Khaira put the puck on goal and Gawdin snapped in the rebound chance.
Broncos forward Beck Malenstyn was impactful in his debut as a Bronco as the 19-year-old forward took the puck hard to the net from the left wing, and teammate Matteo Gennaro followed behind to slide in the loose puck and tie this thriller up 4-4.
Overtime solved nothing so a shootout was necessary and the Broncos were perfect as both Gawdin and Gennaro scored while Flodell denied both Warriors shooters.
Rookie blue liner Carter Spenst made his WHL debut on Wednesday night for Swift Current and was steady.
Shots on goal were 38-27 in favour of Moose Jaw. The Broncos power play wrapped up the evening 1/3 while the Warriors concluded with two power play markers on five opportunities.
Swift Current will pay a visit to Mosaic Place for the back half of the home-and-home set with Moose Jaw on December 28th at 7:00pm CT.
