Graham Black forced overtime with another late goal, but the Swift Current Broncos fell 3-2 to the Prince Albert Raiders in a shootout on Friday night.
It was the second straight game where the Broncos managed a goal with their net empty to tie the score.
"We've got a team this year where even when we're down there is that battle mentality in their minds," said Broncos Assistant Coach Jamie Heward. "They really feel as though we can come back in games. That's a good sign, but obviously you don't want to be down too many times and doing that too often. It can get a little nerve-wracking."
The Broncos outshot Prince Albert 39-26 and had only managed to solve rookie goaltending Nick McBride once all game until Black was able to tie the game on a puck that just snuck in. Both Black and Jay Merkley had a goal and an assist in a losing cause.
"It's a good point," Heward said. "It's kind of an up and down game for us. We did a lot of good things and there were times we made some mistakes that are kind of uncharacteristic for us."
"We've showed good energy in the last four games and it's just one of those things we get into a shootout and anything can happen."
The Broncos are now 1-6 on the season in the shootout. Their struggles in that aspect of the game are starting to add up to lots of lost points.
"There really is no way to put a finger on it," Heward said. "It affects every hockey team at some point either good or bad. I look at NHL teams that have lots and loads of talent and they can't score... it's just one of those things."
"We realize that it's an important part of our game. The guys work on it, but it's maybe one of those things they have to work on a little more after practice."
Swift Current got off to a good start in a scoreless first doubling the Raiders 12-6 in shots and controlling the pace against a team that had lost five games in a row and handn't scored a goal in their previous two games.
"Taking the chances I don't think we even gave them one and we never put them away," Heward said. "With a team that is struggling like that... if we don't know what we can in the first period to burry them and have them think oh here we go again... there's going to be the opportunity for them to comeback and play well."
Merkley opened the scoring early in the second period after Black won a battle at his own line to get the puck to Cave who fed a nice pass over to Merkley for his 22nd of the season.
The Raiders got on the board midway through the period when Collin Valcourt struck for his first goal since December 30th. Towards the end of the period Dakota Conroy deflected a Josh Morrissey goal to put the Raiders ahead on what was his first goal since December 14th.
Swift Current had a few good chances in the third before tying the game up late. The Raiders went 1 for 2 on the power play, while Swift Current didn't score on their lone man advantage opportunity. The Broncos have had fewer chances on the power play than any team in the WHL.
"It's starting to get blatantly obvious that we're not going to get calls and we're going to have to do stuff 5 on 5," Heward added. "It really is getting to the point where (Coach/GM Mark Lamb) and I and (Associate Coach Darren Evjen) are just kind of shaking our heads wondering what's going on. It's not like they're borderline they're obviously calls that should be getting made an they're just not getting made in our direction."
"It is what it is. We just go out and try to battle 5 on 5 and we've done a good job scoring goals without a lot of power play chances."
Dakota Odgers and Stephen Shmoorkoff both left the games due to injuries that Heward does not suspect are serious. Tanner LeSann missed his second consecutive game sick.
Eetu Laurikainen made 24 saves for the Broncos in his third straight start. Swift Current carries a 2 point lead in the WHL East Division into a game in Saskatoon on Saturday.
"It's just another team that we have to play right now," Heward said. "We really don't look at standings... they're good at times they're bad at times. They're just another team in the league and we have to make sure we are totally focused and playing our game."
You can listen to our broadcast of Pioneer Co-op Home Centre Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm on The Eagle 94.1 FM.
Fri, Apr 26, 10:00 AM
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