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Photo by Darwin Knelsen

Landon Bow made 55 saves for the Swift Current Broncons on New Year's Eve, but it wasn't enough in a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings.

"He really kept the game within reach for almost the entire hockey game tonight," said Broncos associate coach Josh Dixon.

Swift Current never seemed to generate much energy as the Oil Kings controlled the pace from start to finish in their third win over the Broncos this season.

"There's no question four games in five days plays a factor," Dixon said. "Really that just ends up being an excuse if you use it. We needed more push back tonight especially from our third and fourth lines and fifth and sixth defencemen."

Dixon wouldn't accept their tired legs as a reason for a lackluster performance.

"In order to win when you're playing multiple games in a short period of time on the road you need a full effort from every single player," he said. "I don't feel from top to bottom in our lineup everybody gave a complete, competitive effort that was required tonight.

"If you use the schedule and use fatigue against yourself it's an excuse. 72 games is a grind for every team."

Glenn Gawdin scored the lone Swift Current goal on a highlight reel play. That was about all Swift Current could manage offensively as Edmonton kept possession of the puck for most of the night.

Tyson Grunning opened the scoring for Edmonton as the 16-year-old call-up ripped his first career goal over Bow's glove on a quick rush down the right win. Gawdin responded for Swift Current with a power forward move shrugging off a hook and ripping his 10th of the season by Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Tristan Jarry.

The Oil Kings killed off a Broncos power play shortly after and took over the rest of the way. They outshot Swift Current 19-5 in the first and Bow was equal to the task of many outside Edmonton shots.

Eventually all the work from the point would pay off early in the second period when Aaron Irving's shot hit Brandon Baddock in the chest and he fired the rebound over Bow for the eventual game winner. Edmonton again controlled the play with 17 shots to Swift Current's 5 in the period.

The Broncos had their chances with a 5 on 3 early in the second and another power play midway through. They went 0 for 4 on the man advantage while holding Edmonton to 0 for 2.

Edmonton pulled away on a nice goal by Ashton Sautner early in the third period and the Oil Kings iced it with Brett Pollock's empty net goal. Dyson Mayo and Andrew Koep each had two assists on the night for Edmonton.

Swift Current was missing Carter Rigby due to the second game of a two game suspension for a hit on Regina's Chase Harrison. Dillon Heatherington wil miss at least one more game while playing for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

The Broncos finished a stretch of four games in five nights with a 2-2 record. They're off until Saturday when they start 2015 with a road game in Medicine Hat. Swift Current is back home next Wednesday against Calgary.

Wednesday's game wraps up what was an interesting 2014 for the Broncos which included a terrific playoff series against the Medicine Hat Tigers that seemed to fire up the fanbase. Other notable moments include three Broncos defenceman being picked in the first three rounds of the NHL draft and a contract extension for Coach/GM Mark Lamb.