Sometimes a win doesn't feel entirely like a win.

The Swift Current Broncos extended their winning streak to five with a 4-2 win over Brandon despite a drop off in their play after a strong first period.

“I'm not sure what happened between periods,” said Broncos Associate Coach Ryan Smith. “In the second and third we were the second best team on the ice. The approach was different than the first. We had a game plan going in and we got away from that. We played on the perimeter, we passed it around, we turned down shots and didn't back check. Our game fell apart.”



“For us it was a disappointing win. I don't know if that makes any sense to anybody, but it was.”

Tyler Steenbergen and Glenn Gawdin each had a goal and two assists in the win. Steenbergen scored the game winner late in the third period for his 40th goal of the season.

“I thought we came out really strong in the first period,” Steenbergen said. “In the second and third we got really complacent. Coming down the stretch I don't think we can do that. We're going to learn from it, but I don't think we played very well in the last two periods.”

The Broncos dominated the first period flying from puck drop to buzzer with 21 shots on net and several good quality chances.

Colby Sissons opened the scoring with his 12th of the year making a really nice play to stay onside and then flipping a puck top shelf while off balance.

The second period saw momentum turn in Brandon's favour. They outshot the Broncos 10-7 in the period, but also had more territorial advantage in the second twenty minutes.

“We weren't moving our feet,” Steenbergen said. “We weren't hitting like we were. We weren't getting pucks to the net and were playing perimeter hockey. In playoffs you can't do that so we have to learn now. We have time to learn from it thankfully and down the stretch we'll be better.”



Ty Lewis tied the game for the Wheat Kings knocking in his own rebound for his 30th goal of the season. The Broncos responded right away as Kole Gable ripped his 6th of the season under the crossbar off a nice feed by a Josh Anderson. Gable, Ethan Regnier and Mackenzie Wight got significant ice time in the game despite being the team's fourth line. That included several shifts defending Brandon's top line.

“They had energy,” Smith said. “They were fast, they were playing plays (and) they were all over their defence. They were our best line tonight... I liked their game tonight. They deserved to have ice. We had confidence in them and they had confidence in themselves.”

That 2-1 lead wouldn't last long before Rylan Bettens fired his 4th of the season through Stuart Skinner's five-hole and a 2-2 game heading into the third period.

The third period saw Stuart Skinner turn aside 14 shots as the Broncos killed a couple penalties and kept themselves in a position to win the game. The penalty kill had a good night holding the Wheat Kings to 0 for 3.

“I thought we cleared well,” Smith said. “We got pucks out and took away shot lines. Our penalty kill has slowly been getting better and we prided ourselves on that. To see it pay off in an important situation is huge for us.”

The game winner came after a successful penalty kill as Gawdin drove the net and Steenbergen ripped home the rebound. The sniper now has goals in three straight games after scoring only twice in his previous thirteen games.

“I don't think it really went away too much,” Steenbergen said. “I just wasn't bearing down on my chances. As long as I'm getting chances I'm fine with it eventually it will go in. They're starting to go in which is nice, but it's nice that we're getting wins too. That's what we're here to do is win hockey games.”

Swift Current remains three points back of Moose Jaw for first place in the WHL and the East Division. They have 14 games left in the regular season, while the Warriors still have 17 to play.

“First place is huge this year,” Steenbergen said. “Our division is really strong. Obviously that first place is on our mind... it will be an exciting finish to the season.”Next up for Swift Current is a home-and-home with the Central Division leading Medicine Hat Tigers starting Friday in Swift Current.