Despite their current 2-1-0-1 record nearing the end of their five-game U.S. Division road trip, the Swift Current Broncos are working through some growing pains.

With five new faces on the roster since the January 10 WHL Trade Deadline (Andrew Fyten, Josh Anderson, Stuart Skinner, Tanner Nagel, and Giorgio Estephan), and seven in total (Jacson Alexander and Beck Malenstyn) having logged 14 or fewer games with Swift, the chemistry has understandably not been instantaneous.

"It's not a video game," said Broncos  Associate Coach Ryan Smtih. People have different personalities, they're coming from different cultures. The Lethbridge guys in particular have been with Lethbridge their whole career, so they're coming from a place where they're comfortable and into a new environment. The Calgary guys... Beck Malenstyn's just starting to play a little bit, Fyten gets here at the deadline. You're trying to find a way to gradually bring these guys into what you're trying to do as a team, but also allowing them to be their own individual players, because that's why you went out and got them."

While the team is still a work in progress they have certainly done enough to be successful with a 4-1-0-1 record since the trade deadline and 7-1-1-1 in their last ten games.

However, that still-growing familiarity has perhaps been noticed in second-period struggles on their current road trip, although the exact reason for the sluggish second stanza is unclear. The Broncos have been out-scored 7-2 and out-shot 53-23 in second periods on their trip.

"I don't know what the answer is," Smith admitted. "Our starts have been very good either. Our finishes have been pretty good. Even [in the 4-1 loss to Everett] we were within two goals with five minutes left. We're having a little identity problem right now I think in this trip. That's where we are."

A wide-range in results (9-1 win over Edmonton, 4-1 loss to Everett) can be expected with a Broncos roster that houses a steady combination of new, and high-end acquisitions. Especially with the intensity of the schedule on a long road trip against five high quality opponents.

"We talked about this before, and we'll probably talk about it throughout the process," Smith noted. "Just find the chemistry, find the guys that work well together. That could change on a nightly basis. We want to give all these new guys and our old guys an opportunity in the last 24 games to figure out the right combination heading into the playoffs."

Swift Current (33-11-3-1) continues to tune their lineup, and looks to cap off their five game fight in the Pacific Northwest in rhythm. A game in Spokane against the Chiefs (24-19-1-2) closes the U.S. trip.

"Spokane has a top two lines that are as good as anybody in the league. They've got some very mobile D that like to jump up in the play and it's one of the bigger, better rinks. It'll be loud, just like the other ones here," Smith said, adding that this Chiefs' squad, despite being fifth in the U.S. Division, is right in the thick of the playoff race.

"Well again, another team they're right in the fight here for the playoffs. This whole division is so tight. Everett has won seven in a row and they haven't been able to make any separation. We feel the same way. We win a few games in a row but we can't climb within seven or eight points of Moose Jaw. We'd like to really end this trip on a right note and head into those two big games [a home-and-home with the Regina Pats] this weekend feeling good about ourselves."

Catch all of tonight's action between the Swift Current Broncos and Spokane Chiefs live on The Eagle 94.1 for Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey starting at 8:30 p.m.