Adam Lowry continued his torrid pace with two more goals as his Swift Current Broncos topped the Saskatoon Blades 3-1 on Tuesday night. Lowry has now scored in seven straight games and is on a twelve game points streak. He has scored 13 goals and 20 points over that span.
“It's huge having a guy that can lead like that,” said Broncos forward Graham Black. “We're all relying on him for a big play and he's been doing it. Everyone is giving him a pat on the back. He's such a good player and such a good captain. We couldn't ask for anything better.”
Black opened the scoring for the Broncos with a power play goal in the first period as he ripped a shot over the glove of Blades goaltender Alex Moodie. Lowry then extended the lead for Swift Current midway through the second period after Reece Scarlett made a great move with the puck to the slot and created a rebound on a quick, low shot. Swift Current dominated the period with 15 shots to only 6 from the Blades.
Saskatoon got on the board less than 5 minutes into the third period when Nathan Burns fired a quick shot over the blocker of Landon Bow on the power play. It was the only goal Bow allowed when facing 41 combined shots over his back-to-back starts this week.
Lowry alleviated the pressure on the Broncos by driving the net and putting a loose puck to extend Swift Current's lead to 3-1. The Blades pulled their goalie for a late 6 on 4 on the power play, but were unable to solve Bow and the shot blockers in front of him. The loss snapped Saskatoon's win streak at six games. Swift Current was able to contain a Saskatoon team that had scored 37 goals over that streak.
Interviews with Graham Black, Daniel Dale and Jamie Porter“Everyone came back,” Black said. “We play a defensive kind of hockey game and you can tell by the shots... everybody was getting in (shooting) lanes, everybody wanted to win so bad.”
Swift Current has only allowed 16 goals in the 9 games they've played so far in December.
“I think we just kept doing what we always do,” said forward Daniel Dale. “Play our systems, try to be physical, get the puck out on the walls... we never really have high scoring games they're always close. It's just now we're starting to come on the winning side more often. Scoring goals has been the difference for us not letting the other team, we've always been able to keep them at bay.”
The Broncos were down to 11 forwards at the start of the game and a couple of fights shortened the bench even further. Third and fourth line players like Dale had to step up in bigger roles and the veteran forward chipped in with an assist in that spot.
“It's just part of the job you have to fill in when needed,” Dale said. “I just play the simplest game I can... try to get my hits in as much as possible. Do whatever it takes to win.”
Broncos management has been pleased with the way their depth plays have filled in for injured veterans like Brent Benson, Josh Derko and Chance Lund.
Highlights of The New Pioneer Co-op Home Centre Broncos Hockey“We've had a lot of guys like that lately,” said Broncos Assistant General Manager Jamie Porter. “The injuries that we've had guys have taken advantage of it and used it to their benefit instead of us having to worry about who is going to take those extra minutes away.”
That includes the goaltending. Call-up Steve Myland and backup Landon Bow have combined to only allow 5 goals in 4 games including a shutout for each guy after starter Eetu Laurikainen joined Finland for the World Junior Championship.
“The two young guys have proved that they can play,” Porter said. “They've been given an opportunity and have taken advantage of it. Landon has been solid for us and Steve had come in here and proven what we thought about him a couple of years ago.”
Swift Current closed out victories with third period leads in each of their last two games after struggling in the final frame at different times in the first half of the season.
“We've been in so many one-goal games and come out on the wrong end when we've done everything right just about each night,” Porter added. “Hopefully it's paying off now. Hopefully the guys can see where it's going, come back here with some confidence and something to build on.”
The Broncos head into the holiday break 2 points behind Saskatoon for 2nd place in the WHL East Division. Their next game is at home against Medicine Hat on Friday, December 28th.
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