Gawdin makes history, Broncos beat Wheat Kings 5-2
The Swift Current Broncos continued their recent run of home ice dominance on Saturday night, carving up the Brandon Wheat Kings to the tune of a 5-2 score at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex.
Glenn Gawdin gets the puck to a streaking Tyler Steenbergen who went fore-hand back-hand to tuck a low shot by Wheat Kings goaltender Logan Thompson, giving the Broncos a 1-0 advantage with 51 seconds remaining in period number one. For Gawdin, the assist marked his 100th WHL point of the season in what was also his 300th career WHL contest.
On a Broncos power play in the second period, 20-year-old forward Matteo Gennaro crept in from the point and released a good wrister through traffic to double up Swift Current’s lead to 2-0.
Beck Malenstyn tipped home his second goal in as many nights towards the end of the middle period. The Washington Capitals prospect was parked along the front of the Wheat Kings net and he tipped in his eighth goal of the year off the stick of a Noah King slap shot.
Swift Current found themselves in a shorthanded situation three plus minutes into the final period of play when Giorgio Estephan took a two-minute roughing penalty, but the Broncos thrived on the situation at hand and increased the score to 4-0. Gawdin scooped up a loose puck in Wheat Kings territory and snuck a swifty backhander through the legs of Thompson.
Brandon did eventually get on the board as Jonny Hooker took a nice pass from Ben McCartney in the low slot area and his wrist shot beat Joel Hofer low glove side.
With the score 4-1 midway through the third, the Wheat Kings scored a shorthanded goal of their own as Ty Lewis one-timed in his 29th of the season courtesy of a two-on-one shorthanded rush.
Brandon gave Swift Current a bit of a scare but the Broncos made sure no more damage was done the rest of the way. Gennaro potted an empty netter as he intercepted a pass in the neutral zone seconds after Thompson was pulled and he calmly put the puck to the back of the twine, delivering a 5-2 victory for the home team.
Shots on goal were 30-24 in favour of the Broncos. Swift Current went 1/5 on the power play while their penalty kill play was outstanding, holding Brandon scoreless on four opportunities.
A quick turnaround for the Broncos as they now track north to duel the Prince Albert Raiders again on Sunday afternoon, this time at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drop is at 4:00pm CT.
