Deja Vu as Broncos Comeback in Third Period but lose 3-2 in a Shootout
It was deja vu as the Swift Current Broncos erased a third period deficit to the Brandon Wheat Kings only to fall just short in a shootout by a score of 3-2.
Defence was the story of the first period as both teams limited each other’s scoring opportunities as shots on goal were 8-7 for Brandon in a scoreless frame. Both clubs were 0/2 on the power play.
With the game still scoreless nine minutes into the second period, Jordan Wharrie broke the goose egg with his second goal of the season to give Brandon a 1-0 lead. The Wheat Kings nursed their one goal cushion heading into the third period.
At the 3:36 mark of the third, James Shearer scored on a Wheat Kings power play as his shot from the right faceoff dot found its way through a screened Taz Burman.
However, the Broncos simply refused to quit for the second straight night. Lane Pederson got the Broncos on the board 10:18 into the third period by deflecting a Colby Sissons one timer by Wheat Kings goaltender Logan Thompson.
The Broncos pulled Burman for the six-on-five attach with 90 seconds remaining in regulation and were eventually rewarded with a six-on-four opportunity due to Tanner Kaspick taking a high sticking penalty. Pederson came through in the clutch, tucking home a rebound chance from a Tyler Steenbergen shot with nine seconds remaining to tie the game 2-2 and force overtime.
Both clubs had a power play opportunity in overtime but neither scored and a shootout was required to determine a winner yet again.
And for the second time in as many games, Wheat Kings’ Stelio Mattheos buried the shootout winner to send Swift Current to a 3-2 defeat.
Logan Thompson stopped 36 shots for Brandon while Taz Burman countered with a 33 save effort.
Swift Current went 1/7 on the power play and Brandon finished 1/5. Swift Current sits third in the East Division standings with a 10-6-2-3 record.
The Swift Current Broncos head back home to welcome the Red Deer Rebels for Tuesday Night Date Night at the Credit Union i-Plex on Tuesday, November 15th with puck drop scheduled for 7:00pm.
