The Swift Current Broncos won their third straight game with a 3-1 win over the host Calgary Hitmen Friday. The win pulled the Broncos even with the Medicine Hat Tigers for sixth spot in the Eastern Conference with 69 points apiece with seven games remaining in the regular season.
Graham Black, Adam Lowry, and Coda Gordon all counted for Swift Current in a contest that saw all four goals scored in the first period. Victor Rask scored the lone goal for the Hitmen, who dropped to 40-19-14.
Eetu Laurikainen made 36 saves to improve to 25-21-2-4 for the Broncos. Chris Driedger suffered the loss with 17 saves on 20 shots to fall to 30-14-1-3.
The Broncos improved to 31-27-3-4 and earned some breathing room behind them with a three-point cushion over the Kootenay Ice and a seven-point lead over the ninth-place Lethbridge Hurricanes.
It was the Broncos' third consecutive win over the Hitmen, a possible first-round playoff opponent.
The Broncos will play their third straight road game Saturday when they visit the Red Deer Rebels (35-24-4-2).
Remaining games
Swift Current Broncos (7) - @ 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 (8) - vs Medicine Hat, @ Red Deer, @ Tri-City, @ Spokane, vs Lethbridge, @ Lethbridge, vs Calgary, @ Calgary.
Lethbridge Hurricanes (8) - @ Kelowna, vs Red Deer, @ Red Deer, @ Calgary, @ Kootenay, vs Kootenay, vs Medicine Hat, @ Medicine Hat.
