The Everett Silvertips lived up to their billing in Game 1 of the WHL Championship Series.

A team known for being able to smother their opponent's scoring ability did just that on the way to a 2-1 win over the Swift Current Broncos and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"I thought both teams played really well tonight," said Broncos Head Coach/Director of Player Personnel Manny Viveiros. "I thought the goaltenders were very, very good. (The Silvertips) come as advertised. A team that battles really hard for loose pucks especially in their zone on the wall and in front of the net. We have to do a better job tomorrow as far as getting to the net area a lot more."

It was a hard fought battle and could have gone either way until the Silvertips took an early third period lead and locked the game down the rest of the way.

"What I was really proud of was the response in the third," said Silvertips Head Coach Doug Williams. "We started playing the way we can play. We played a 200 hundred foot game and we backed up every shift with a positive. From there we know it's a short mindset towards a new game and a new day. We enjoy tonight, learn from it and lets get better tomorrow."

The game was well played from the start with both teams limiting the high quality scoring chances they allowed. Swift Current brought a physical game right off the start in front of their sold out crowd and kept the energy up in the building. That physical play could pay off as the series moves along.

"This series is probably going really long again," Viveiris said. "What you do in Game 1 and Game 2 is sometimes going to pay off is Games 5, 6 and 7. It's not a sprint. You've got to play hard every shift."

Everett opened the scoring on a really nice power play goal by Patrick Bajkov as he made a great move from the bottom of the left circle aross the frong of the Swift Current goal before sliding it by Stuart Skinner.

The Broncos answered in the second period right as their 4 on 3 power play expired. Matteo Gennaro fired a hard pass towards the Everett net and Aleksi Heponiemi deflected in his fourth goal of the post-season in a period where Swift Current carried more of the play.

"Always try to get to the net," Heponiemi said. "Had a really good pass there and had a goal. Hopefully get another tomorrow."

Everett took the lead back early in the third when Connor Dewar deflected a rising Ondrej Vala shot by the Broncos netminder.

The Silvertips then played a strong, disciplined game to shut Swift Current down the rest of the way and strike first in the series.

"We've just got to dig in a little bit more around the hashmarks in the offensive zone," Viveiros said. "Get more pucks towards the net."

Carter Hart made 34 saves including big saves on Tyler Steenbergen and Gennaro in the third period.

Game 2 is back in Swift Current tonight. It's sold out, but he Broncos are again holding a viewing party in the curling rink of the Innovation Credit Union iPlex for fans who couldn't get into the game. Listen live to Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm on The Eagle 94.1 FM.