The Swift Current Broncos have saved most of their best and most entertaining games this season for the crowds at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex.

But they're not all going to be Picassos.

A seemingly run down Broncos club couldn't muster much of a spark tonight in a 2-0 loss against a Kootenay Ice squad that didn't exactly put pedal to the metal themselves.

"We're a pretty frustrated room right now," said Broncos assistant coach Scott Dutertre. "I think right from the drop of the puck we were fairly flat. We just couldn't get anything going. As the game went on it seemed like it kind of snowballed. I know we have some tired kids and we've battled the flu, but that's not an excuse. We have to find a way to get focused."



Kootenay outshot the Broncos 34-16, but the game didn't include a huge number of scoring chances for either side. Isaac Poulter gave his team a chance to win with 32 saves for Swift Current in a losing cause, while Jesse Makaj earned his first career shutout in the Kootenay goal.

The Ice opened the scoring during some four on four play early in the second period when highly touted 2019 NHL Draft prospect Peyton Krebs drew defenders to him and set up Jaeger White for an open shot. Krebs later finished a give-and-go to score their second goal on a third period power play.

Any chance for a third period comeback really stalled when the Broncos found themselves in the penalty box five straight times almost erasing an entire half of the period.

"The stuff we had was fairly deliberate," Dutertre said. "We earned everything we got. I think it was just a lack of focus."

The Broncos were 0 for 4 on their power play, while their recently strong penalty kill held steady with five stops on six Kootenay opportunities.

With Eric Houk, Tyler Lees and Ben King injured, Kye Buchanan also missed the game while dealing with the flu. Swift Current was in their third game in four days and fourth game in seven days. They looked like a team that lacked energy.

"I think rest is critical," Dutertre said. "We have a lot of kids writing exams right now so mentally they're a bit fried. We had that grind up until Christmas, had that time off and right back at it again. We have a bit of a flu bug. We need to try and get healthy for the most part. We'll go back, we'll review some video and stuff and again it's just a blip in the radar. I think we've been progressing but tonight was just one of those nights."

Alex Thacker made his WHL debut as an AP for Swift Current in the loss. He has 27 points in 29 Alberta Midget AAA games this season.

Next action for the Broncos is at home against Medicine Hat on Friday. They'll then visit the Tigers on Saturday.