One day after locking up their first playoff appearance in three years, the Swift Current Broncos picked up a second straight win with a 3-2 victory over the host Brandon Wheat Kings. The win wrapped up the season series as the Broncos earned 15 of 16 points against the Wheat Kings this season.
The Broncos trailed 1-0 after one period when Eric Roy opened the scoring at the 16:24 mark. They took the lead in the second period with goals from Reece Scarlett, Dillon Heatherington, and Adam Lowry. Lowry’s 44th goal of the season stood up as the game winner when he put the Broncos ahead 3-1 with 35 seconds left in the middle stanza. Jay Merkely snapped a four-game pointless streak with assists on the Broncos' final two goals.
Brandon made it a one-goal game when Geordie Maguire scored 4:13 into the third period to close the scoring. Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Broncos closed things out with a scoreless third period.
Eetu Laurikainen made 26 saves in his 20th consecutive start to improve to 28-23-2-4.
Curtis Honey allowed three goals on 18 shots to drop to 10-15-2-1 in front of 4,202 fans at Westman Place.
The Broncos continue to sit sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 34-29-3-4 record. They remain two points ahead of seventh-place Medicine Hat but moved within two points of fifth-place Prince Albert. Brandon remains last in the Eastern Conference with a 22-38-4-4 record.
The Broncos will have five days off before wrapping up the regular season next weekend. They will conclude the regular season with a home-and-away series against the Regina Pats in Regina on Friday and back in Swift Current Saturday.
The Broncos have 11 of a possible 12 points against the Pats this season and have won five straight games against the Pats since losing in overtime to open the season series.
The series has been surprisingly tight though, with all six games decided by one goal and three games have been decided in overtime.
Remaining games
Swift Current Broncos (2) - @ Regina, vs Regina.
Prince Albert Raiders (3) - @ Brandon, vs Saskatoon, vs Saskatoon.
Medicine Hat Tigers (3) - @ Calgary, @ Lethbridge, vs Lethbridge.
Kootenay Ice (4) - vs Lethbridge, @ Lethbridge, vs Calgary, @ Calgary.
