Sissons, Skinner lead defensive charge as Broncos claim Game Two
The Swift Current Broncos and Moose Jaw Warriors were back at it less than 24 hours after an eventful Game 1 outing where the Broncos lost by a 5-3 score.
Before the game took place, both teams gathered for a special pre-game ceremony in which both clubs and fans paid their respects to the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that occurred on the afternoon of Friday, November 6th.
Players surrounded center ice and fans joined in for a moment of silence before the game.
The game play began the same way as it did in Game 1 as both clubs were held to limited scoring chances, at one point the shots on goal read 6-6 with eight minutes to play in the first period but Swift Current lit the lamp first.
Glenn Gawdin zipped in the lone goal of the opening period on a Broncos power play advantage. The Bronco captain was parked along the left faceoff dot and received a slick cross ice pass from Aleksi Heponiemi before potting it home.
Less than three minutes entering the second period, Swift Current doubled their lead to 2-0 when Giorgio Estephan took advantage of a rebound opportunity and netted in his second of the 2018 WHLPlayoffs. Colby Sissons released a long point shot that Warriors goaltender Brody Willms stopped but the rebound went right to Estephan, leading to the goal.
The Broncos kept the pressure going as Heponiemi had possession of the puck deep in Warriors territory in which the Florida Panthers prospect dialed up a nice deke and located a wide open Tyler Steenbergen who netted the Broncos third goal. Sissons earned the other assist on the play for his third helper of the night.
Saskatoon, SK native Kaden Elder delivered the dagger as he delivered an empty netter when Moose Jaw pulled Willms for the extra attacker with three minutes on the clock. The score would read 4-0 Swift Current and they held off Moose Jaw the rest of the way to get the victory and tie their best-of-seven series set 1-1.
Skinner was effective when he needed to be, rounding up 20 saves to be awarded his second postseason shutout.
Shots on goal were 30-20 in favour of Swift Current. The Broncos power play wen 1/2 while they killed off Moose Jaw’s one man advantage chance.
With the series tied at one game apiece, Round Two shifts to the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex in Swift Current for Games 3 & 4. Date and time for Game 3 is Tuesday, April 10th with puck drop slated for 7:00pm.
