Boston Pizza Post Game Recap: Broncos offence comes alive in third but fall to ICE
A strong third period push fell short on Friday night as the Swift Current Broncos suffered their 13th straight loss in a 5-3 loss to the Kootenay ICE.
Things didn’t start off well for the Broncos as rookie goaltender Isaac Poulter went out to play the puck and turned it over to ICE forward Brandon Machado who intercepted the pass and banked it off Poulter to the back of the net.
Early in the second period, the Broncos penalty kill did a terrific job in killing off an ICE power play while Christian Riemer was serving two minutes in the box for hooking. As the penalty expired, Riemer got possession of the puck, entered the zone on a mini two-on-one break and found Matthew Culling in the low slot for his 10th goal of the season to draw the score even 1-1.
Kootenay restored their one-goal lead less than two minutes later as Jaeger White beat Poulter low blocker side and that was followed by forward Brad Ginnell burying his 15th of the season to make it 3-1 Kootenay.
Shots on goal were an overwhelming 37-14 margin for the ICE through two periods of play but Poulter’s 34 saves to that point in time kept the Broncos within a pair.
However, the Broncos started the third period in trouble as Connor McGlennon gave the ICE a 4-1 lead.
Swift Current refused to roll over however as Carter Chorney netted his 14th of the season when Tyler Smithies made a terrific pass to set up the Sherwood, AB product. Rear guard Garrett Sambrook also picked up a helper on the play.
Eric Houk then made it a 4-3 score for Kootenay as the 17-year-old finished off a play that saw Tyler Lees and Ben King collect assists.
The Broncos kept the pressure going and pulled Poulter for the extra attacker with a little over two minutes left in regulation. The magic came to a hault however as McClennon sealed the Broncos fate by adding an empty netter and delivering a 5-3 victory for Kootenay.
Shots on goal were 48-27 in favour of the ICE. Both clubs finished the evening going 0/3 on their respective power plays.
Next up for Swift Current is a date against the Medicine Hat Tigers for the clubs fourth and final matchup of the season. Puck drop is set for 8:30pm CT.
