The Swift Current Broncos were looking for playoff experience when they added Stuart Skinner from Lethbridge at the trade deadline.

The veteran delivered with 34 saves for the shutout as the Broncos beat Regina 3-0 in Game 1 of their first round series.

"I felt great," Skinner said. "I was really excited. A lot of nerves going into it, but felt good after the start and the boys played a heck of a game. It was a full team win tonight."

"The guys up front were blocking a ton of shots for me," Skinner said. "If it wasn't for those guys up top they probably would have had 60-some shots. Obviously the defencemen are keeping guys to the side, taking sticks away and blocking shots as well. All the credit goes to the guys in the dressing room for sure."

Beck Malenstyn opened the scoring with a quick deflection after a Josh Anderson shot missed the net and bounced back in front of the Regina goal.

The Broncos kept pouring it on with a couple of power play goals in the first from Tyler Steenbergen and Matteo Gennaro to put some early distance between the two clubs.

"You want to start off on the right foot and I thought we did," said Broncos Associate Coach Ryan Smith. "Building a lead like that always helps. It was a hard fought game. They came at us, they threw a lot of different looks at us and they played well. We just capitalized on our chances."

Aleksi Heponiemi made two assists in the win.

Ryam Kubic was solid in goal for Regina with 23 saves including a couple of huge stops in the third period to keep the game within reach.

The Pats were without goaltender Max Paddock who started most of their games down the stretch but didn't dress tonight. They also played without forward Jesse Gabrielle.

Swift Current lost defenceman Artyom Minulin to an unspecified first period injury.

The two teams play again tomorrow night at the sold out Innovation Credit Union iPlex. We will have the broadcast on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Robertson Family Group Swift Current Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.

In other WHL Eastern Conference playoff action Prince Albert upset Moose Jaw 5-3 in their first game, Lethbridge shutout Red Deer 6-0 and Medicine Hat topped Brandon 7-2.

Audio Game Highlights:


Post-Game Stuart Skinner:


Post-Game Ryan Smith: