Lindgren the Overtime Hero as Broncos Complete Gutsy Comeback to Beat Pats
Revenge was on the Broncos minds as they made their way back to the Brandt Centre for their sixth meeting of the season against the Regina Pats, with the most recent visit being a 7-0 loss on Friday night. The Broncos got vengeance as they erased a two-goal third period deficit to force overtime before Ryley Lindgren buried the winner to send Swift Current to an astonishing 5-4 victory.
The Broncos got off to a bit of a slow start as Austin Wagner one-timed his 27th of the season from the front of the Broncos net off a nice backdoor pass from Adam Brooks. It looked like the Pats added another minutes later but the goal was disallowed due to the net being off its moorings.
That play provided a spark for the Broncos and was a turning point in the period as Kole Gable scored to tie it 1-1. Arthur Miller skated down the left wing and fired a sharp angle shot on Pats goaltender Jordan Hollett that was initially stopped but Gable followed the puck and slid it in.
Nick Henry put Regina back up front 2-1 a minute later but the Broncos held tough and were rewarded as Tyler Steenbergen tallied his team-leading 44th goal of the season to knot the battle up at two goals apiece. Steenbergen tipped in a shot that came off the stick from Aleksi Heponiemi off a Swift Current power play.
The Broncos got into penalty trouble in the second period but they held the fort, killing off all three consecutive man advantages to keep the game tied.
Dawson Leedahl restored the Pats one-goal lead, going blocker high on Broncos goaltender Taz Burman to make it a 3-2 game.
Tempers soon flared as Sahvan Khaira was issued a five-minue major and game misconduct for charging amongst several other penalties issued to both clubs. Pats forward Sam Steel would score on that power play to put the Broncos in a 4-2 hole heading into the third period.
The Broncos showed why they are rarely ever out of a game with a gutsy third period effort. Heponiemi smacked in a goal after Conner Chaulk’s initial shot went off the end boards right to the tape of Heponiemi.
With the net empty, Artyom Minulin sent a shot off the post as Swift Current was inches away from tying the game but Steenbergen kept the boys in blue alive, ripping in his second of the night and 45th of the season with 12 seconds remaining to force overtime. Shots on goal were 46-29 in favour or Regina but more hockey was needed to determine a winner.
In overtime, Ryley Lindgren turned on the jets from the Broncos end of the ice, zoomed up the right wing and fired a shot that got through the five-hole of Hollett to propel Swift Current to a wild 5-4 victory.
Swift Current went 2/4 on the power play while Regina finished 1/6. Taz Burman stopped 43 shots in the win.
The Broncos are back in action on Tuesday night against the Brandon Wheat Kings at the Credit Union i-Plex. Puck drop is set for 7:00pm CT.
