Cavin Leth (photo by Darwin Knelsen for scbroncos.com)

The Swift Current Broncos got back to playing tight, defensive hockey last weekend in collecting three out of a possible four points.

After allowing 16 goals in their previous three games, they allowed only three in their next two.

"It was just the little things we were making mistakes on," said Broncos forward Cavin Leth. "We were doing fly-bys, we weren't getting the puck out at the blue line or getting the puck in at the blue line. I think getting that mind set of not swinging by... I think that changes it a lot. Playing a good solid defence will lead to a good offence."

The Broncos didn't feel like they had been playing poorly in those previous games as much as running into lapses that would put the game out of reach.

"We talked about being patient," said Coach/GM Mark Lamb. "We talked about if you do get scored on make sure you're really focused going out. The next shift is always the most important so it doesn't build a lot of momentum. A few games this year they've scored and we've had a mental lapse for four or five minutes that costs you the hockey game."

The Broncos also moved Jake DeBrusk, Glenn Gawdin and new captain Jon Martin together to provide a power vs. power match-up against other team's top lines.

"As long as our power is going it's going to be a good battle no matter what night in and night out," Leth said. "They're always going to be pushing their top line for them to succeed. When they push themselves to go higher they're going to reach the sky. They can do anything if they keep pushing themselves."

Their most impressive performance came in shutting down Brayden Point's line while scoring every Broncos goal in a 3-0 win over Moose Jaw.

"That's a very strong line," Lamb said. "The line is very heavy. We just had a real strong mentality of shutting down. Our mentality wasn't to score, but when you do a good job away from the puck it seems to happen."

Lamb was also quick to note the contributions of young defencemen Artyum Minulin and Max Lajoie as part of that shut down unit.

"It's the first time they've played together," Lamb said. "Max is a very good skater, very smart offensively and he's very good defensively also. Minulin has been big, strong and he's got a great stick. They complimented one another. There's different parts of a year and you're trying to find chemistry all the time. The way those guys played against the top player in my mind in the league, to go out and shut them down was a pretty good effort."

Swift Current will face another skilled team with multiple scoring threats tonight at home against the Saskatoon Blades. They've split their games against the Blades with a 5-0 win in Saskatoon and a 6-5 loss on home ice.

"We need to take how we played on the weekend and play like that," Lamb said. "Saskatoon is a high powered offensive team that have two lines who can kill you big time. We haven't seen (Prince Albert) yet and they're right at the top."

After tonight's home game against the Blades the Broncos head to Prince Albert on Saturday. You can hear both games on The Eagle 94.1 FM.

Game time tonight is 7:00pm at the Credit Union iPlex.