Broncos playoff hopes on the line this weekend

The final weekend of the regular season is a little more meaningful than the Swift Current Broncos had hoped it would be.

Their once twelve point lead on Moose Jaw for the final playoff spot in the WHL East Division is down to two points with two games left to play. Swift Current starts a home-and-home with the Hurricanes tonight in Lethbridge, while Moose Jaw hosts Brandon for the first part of their weekend home-and-home.

On paper the schedule significantly favours Swift Current as they play the second worst team in the conference while Moose Jaw is matched up with the WHL's best team. The Broncos are trying not to think of it that way.

"They've beat good teams," said Broncos associate Coach Josh Dixon. "They beat Edmonton twice in their building, they beat Calgary in their building... the parody in this league is so great that certainly any team can beat a team not only once, but in a home-and-home situation."

"We have to properly prepare ourselves and have that mentality with the season on the line. We don't want to leave anything to chance."

The Broncos need no better example of that than two recent losses in Saskatoon against a Blades team that is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Swift Current has struggled all season on the road with a record of 11-22-1-1 and they've only won once in their last six games away from the Credit Union iPlex.

"We have to take a greater page out of how we prepare at home," Dixon said. "To make sure we have that same start that we have at home, that same control of the game, that same confidence... but confidence is such an alluring term. It's funny when you lose it all of a sudden when you lose it you wonder where did it go. It really comes down to preparation and mindset."

"For us to have success in the playoffs we're going to have to find a way to win on the road."

The biggest obstacle in dealing with the Hurricanes may be their rookie goaltender Stuart Skinner. Should he play against the Broncos, the 16-year-old has shown the ability to steal games for his team despite facing a barrage of shots.

"Skinner I had at the Under-17s," Dixon said. "He stole two games in Edmonton, he stole a game in Calgary. He's a very big blocking goaltender. We're going to have to get traffic. He does give up rebounds if we have traffic in front of the net. He's the type of goaltender that won't get beat on the first shot often we're going to need second and third opportunities."

Swift Current will almost certainly be leaning on veteran Landon Bow in goal. Bow won the only battle between the two players this season back in December.

The Broncos have won both games of the season series so far. It took a natural hat trick from Colby Cave to erase a big deficit and beat the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime during their only previous visit to Lethbridge this season on November 7th. The Broncos beat Skinner and the Hurricanes 5-2 in Swift Current on December 5th.

The magic number for the Broncos to clinch a playoff spot is three points. Any combination of points gained by Swift Current or lost by Moose Jaw that adds up to three is enough to clinch the spot and a first round series against Regina. If the teams finished tied after Saturday night's games there will be a one-game playoff between the Broncos and Warriors.

You can hear Friday night's game on The Eagle 94.1 FM starting with our pre-game show at 6:30pm. Saturday's game at the Credit Union iPlex is Fan Appreciation Night and will feature team awards during a pre-game ceremony.