Nick Henry's overtime winner lifted the Regina Pats to a 3-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos tonight.

The goal and the victory ensures that the two teams will now meet in a first round playoff series starting next Friday in Swift Current.

Brandon's 6-5 overtime victory over Moose Jaw earlier in the night kept the door open for a Wheat Kings/Broncos series until Henry's goal eliminated all doubt.

This will be the third time in the last four seasons that the Broncos and Pats will meet in the playoffs with Regina winning the last two.

Matteo Gennaro and Artyom Minulin each had a goal and an assist on the power play for Swift Current in a losing cause.

The Broncos have now lost four straight games for the first time in 2017-18 with one regular season game left at home against the Pats on Saturday night.

Joel Hofer made 29 saves for the Broncos, while Max Paddock earned the win for Regina with 31 stops.

Swift Current captain Glenn Gawdin was back in the lineup after three games on the shelf and appeared to be hurt in the third period on a hit by Tanner Sidaway. Gawdin did return for a couple power play shifts in the third period, but didn't play at all at even strength.

Tyler Steenbergen was also back in the lineup for the Broncos after being hurt by Barrett Sheen of Moose Jaw last Saturday.

Broncos forward Andrew Fyten was ejected from the game in the second period for a hit from beyond on Pats defenceman Libor Hayek. The New York Rangers prospect did play again after the hit and appeared to be OK.

Sam Steel and Jared Legion had the other Regina goals.

It was the first win for the Pats against the Broncos in the season series between the two teams. Regina has now won seven straight games and are heating up right before playoffs.

Saturday night's game is also fan appreciation night for the Broncos and they will hand out their regular season awards. The game is sold out.

We will have the broadcast live on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.

Playoff tickets for the first two games of the series go on sale at 9am on Monday morning.