Four Pats Unanswered Goals the Difference in Game Six Loss
The Swift Current Broncos let a two-goal lead slip away as they gave up four unanswered goals to the Regina Pats in a 5-3 loss at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex. With the loss, the series is now tied up 3-3 and Game 7 is set to go on Monday, April 17th at the Brandt Centre at 7:00pm MT.
Austin Wagner roofed in the opening goal by the glove hand of Broncos goaltender Jordan Papirny to make it a 1-0 Pats lead 7:24 into the first period.
The Broncos answered the call in fine fashion as Artyom Minulin blasted a slap shot from the point and the puck deflected up and over Pats netminder Tyler Brown, tying the game 1-1.
In the second period, Glenn Gawdin and Arthur Miller took advantage of a two-on-one break as Miller gathered a rebound off a Gawdin wrist shot and laced it in the back of the net, sending the sell out crowd to a loud celebration.
Moments later, Gawdin received a pass from Tyler Steenbergen who was stationed behind the Pats goal and went top shelf on Brown to push the Broncos lead to 3-1.
Swift Current had a power play with five minutes remaining in the second but could not extend the margin to a three goal lead and that came back to haunt them. The Pats Josh Mahura scored his second goal of the postseason with 1:24 remaining in the frame to cut the deficit 3-2. Then after Mahura intercepted a Bronco clearing attempt, he fired a low slap shot towards the goal and Wyatt Sloboshan deflected it by Papirny to knot this game up 3-3.
The Pats broke the tie 1:15 into the third period as Wagner netted his second of the night after sliding in a loose puck bouncing around the Bronco crease area. Filip Ahl added the insurance marker for Regina four minutes later to cap off four straight goals for the visiting club.
Swift Current pulled Papirny with two minutes to go in an effort to press for a couple goals but Brown made several terrific saves and the Broncos lost 5-3.
Shots on goal were 37-28 in favour of Swift Current. Both clubs combined to go 0/5 on the power play, Swift Current scoreless on three tries.
The Broncos will play their second Game 7 on the road in the 2017 WHL Playoffs and look to repeat what they were able to pull off in Round One when they edged the Moose Jaw Warriors 3-2 to take that series.
