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Adam Lowry cuts the Blades lead to 1 in the third (Photo by Darwin Kelson)

 

Josh Nicholls scored his hat trick goal into the empty Broncos net to put a dagger into the heart of a spirited third period comeback. His Saskatoon Blades (13-6-0-1) skated out of Swift Current (7-10-0-1) with a 7-5 win after a wild game.

Nicholls was a difference maker on Wednesday night. He scored with 18 seconds left in the second period and only 17 seconds into the third period to give put Saskatoon ahead 4-2. The game had been extremely tight to that point and opened up significantly in the final frame.

Saskatoon ran Broncos goaltender Jon Groenheyde out of the game with their 5th goal on 24 shots. A change in goal and a big hit by Adam Lowry on Nicholls seemed to inspire the troops. Defenceman Dalton Reum scored his second of the game and Lowry followed with a power play goal to cut the Blades lead to one.

It was as close as Swift Current would get.

Shortly after Broncos Captain Taylor Vause hit the post on a great chance, Michael Burns put the game out of reach for Saskatoon. He avoided a Graeme Craig check and had an open lane to the net for the clincher.

Vause would hit another post and the Broncos kept battling for the tie. It wasn't to be. Nicholls sent the sparse crowd of 1824 to their cars with his empty net goal to make it 7-4. Erik Fleming scored his first career goal in the final minute, but it was too late for Swift Current.

The Broncos out shot Saskatoon 37-27. It was the 12th time in 20 games this season that the Blades have been out shot. They still have 13 wins and sit on top of the East Division standings.

"That was one of our better games," said Broncos Assistant Andy Schneider. "We just gave up some easy goals. What can I say? We played hard. That's the kind of game, the kind of style that we want to play. We just have to clean up our end a little bit."

Reum's 2 goals on the night brought him up to 8 points in 19 games this season. That matches his total production over 69 games as a rookie. He partially credits a strategy from the coaching staff that encourages some aggressive play from their back-end.

"It gives us a more dynamic offence," Reum said. "This summer I just worked really hard... I think confidence has a lot to do with what we're doing right now."

Reum has a theory on why games they could have won are getting away from them.

"We have to cut down on our minor mistakes," Reum said. "If everyone picks up a percentage or two in every situation we are going to come out with two points. It's just a matter of time."

Schneider believes they sometimes play better when behind.

"I think maybe we just get a little more desperate," Schneider said. "We have to bring that same desperation at the beginning of games, when the game is tied or when we're up a goal."

"The more physical we play it seems like the more offence we create."

Jesse Paradis opened the scoring for Saskatoon on a nice passing play. The Broncos responded before the end of the first on Reum's shorthanded goal. Swift Current then took a lead 31 seconds into the second period on Ryon Moser's 6th of the year. Graham Black set up him with a nifty behind the back pass from behind the Blades goal. Saskatoon tied it 1:10 later on Dalton Thrower's tally of the season.

The Broncos head to Brandon on Friday night and are home to Moose Jaw on Saturday.

Highlights of Broncos Hockey on The Eagle 94.1 FM:


Click here for interviews with Dalton Reum and Andy Schneider

Click here for the boxscore

NOTES: Wednesday's game was the 200th for Christian Magnus in the WHL. He was drafted by the Broncos before being traded to the Kootenay Ice and then returned to Swift Current in last January's Cody Eakin deal. Magnus had an assist on Reum's second goal of the night... Blades goaltender Andrey Makarov allowed 5 goals on 37 shots, but he stood on his head in the first period when the Broncos were pressing hard. Makarov's back-to-back saves off Lowry and Brad Hoban on an early power play were key to the Blades getting out of the period with a tie... While Nicholls scored three times, teammate Michael Burns earned a different kind of hat trick. He assisted on Paradis' goal, fought Tanner Muth at the end of the second period and scored Saskatoon's 6th goal to complete the Gordie Howe hat trick... Swift Current went 2 for 3 on the man advantage to take over top spot in the WHL power play rankings with a 32.6% efficiency. They have scored 30 times on 92 opportunities. Brandon is in second spot with a 32.1% efficiency. The Broncos have also scored the most power play goals in the league... Saturday night's home game will feature a special retro style jersey and a surprise before puck drop. The team is asking fans to make sure they get to the rink early. The festivities are brought to you by The Eagle 94.1 FM.