Rookie Brycen Martin scored in overtime to lift the Swift Current Broncos to a 3-2 win over the host Brandon Wheat Kings Wednesday.
The 16-year-old blueliner beat Corbin Boes for his second career goal only 1:05 into the four-on-four overtime period to clinch the Broncos 30th win as they now have 13 out of a possible 14 points against Brandon this season.
Taylor Cooper had scored on the powerplay for the Brandon with 5:34 left in regulation to force overtime.
The Broncos led 2-0 after first period on goals from Richard Nedomlel and Ryon Moser. Quintin Lisoway scored in the second period for the Wheat Kings in front of 3,041 fans at Westman Place.
Eetu Laurikainen made 20 saves on 22 shots to improve to 24-21-2-4. Boes suffered the OT loss with 31 saves to move to 11-22-2-1.
The Broncos improved to 30-27-3-4 and remain seventh in the Eastern Conference with eight games remaining in the regular season, while Brandon remains last in the Eastern Conference with a 21-37-4-2 record. The Broncos are now 3-3 in games decided by overtime, while Brandon dropped to 2-4.
The Broncos now trail the Medicine Hat Tigers by only two points for sixth place with one game in hand. The eight-place Kootenay Ice remain one point back of the Broncos with a game in hand and the Lethbridge Hurricanes were six points back as well.
The Broncos will be back on the road Friday when they travel to Calgary to face the Hitmen, followed by a visit to the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday.
Remaining games
Swift Current Broncos (8) - @ Calgary, @ Red Deer, vs Prince Albert, vs Moose Jaw, @ Moose Jaw, @ Brandon, @ Regina, vs Regina.
Medicine Hat Tigers (7) - @ Kootenay, vs Calgary, @ Saskatoon, @ Prince Albert, @ Calgary, @ Lethbridge, vs Lethbridge.
Kootenay Ice (9) - vs Red Deer, vs Medicine Hat, @ Red Deer, @ Tri-City, @ Spokane, vs Lethbridge, @ Lethbridge, vs Calgary, @ Calgary.
Lethbridge Hurricanes (9) - @ Vancouver, @ Kelowna, vs Red Deer, @ Red Deer, @ Calgary, @ Kootenay, vs Kootenay, vs Medicine Hat, @ Medicine Hat.
