The Swift Current Broncos and Calgary Hitmen got their first-round playoff series off to a wild start in Calgary Thursday.
The sixth seeded Broncos erased a four-goal deficit before eventually losing 6-5 in overtime to the third seeded Hitmen to open the best-of-seven playoff series.
Alex Roach was the overtime hero when he scored 4:32 into the overtime period.
The Broncos found themselves behind in the opening moments when they were penalized 29 seconds into regulation and Brooks Macek scored five seconds later for a 1-0 Calgary lead. Calgary earned a 2-0 lead when Brady Brassart scored with 55 seconds left in the frame as they out-shot the Broncos 12-4.
The Hitmen made it 3-0 5:32 into the middle stanza when Colten Mayor scored. Brassart added his second of the game just 16 seconds later to make it 4-0.
Adam Lowry cut the deficit to 4-1 with the Broncos first goal of the post-season at the 10:23 mark of the second period. Ryon Moser made it 4-2 just 51 seconds later to give the Broncos renewed life. Levi Bews made it a one-goal game 1:15 later with a powerplay goal as the Broncos capitalized on their third man-advantage.
Brassart restored the two-goal lead with his hat trick goal early in the third period but Coda Gordon and Graham Black both scored for the Broncos to force overtime.
Eetu Laurikainen suffered the loss in his playoff debut with 32 saves on 38 shots. He also stopped Zane Jones on a second-period penalty shot. Chris Driedger earned the win with 23 saves on 28 in the Calgary goal.
Moser and Gordon each added assists for two-point outings and Dillon Heatherington and Colby Cave both added two assists.
The Broncos finished two-for-five on the man-advantage, while the Hitmen were one-for-two.
Game two will be played Friday in Calgary before the series shifts back to Swift Current for games three and four on Monday and Tuesday.
Medicine Hat upset the host Saskatoon Blades 4-1 in the only other action on the opening night of the 2013 WHL playoffs. All eight playoff series will be in action Friday evening.
