Steps in the right direction came up short for the struggling Swift Current Broncos in a 5-2 loss to the Kootenay Ice on Saturday night.
Jake DeBrusk scored twice in a losing cause as the Broncos twice closed the gap to a single goal and could never quite catch up to the Ice in losing their third straight game as injuries continue to mount.
“I felt like the hockey game was there for us all the way to the end,” said Broncos associate coach Josh Dixon. “Certainly a comedy of errors on the shorthanded goal and then not having enough push back to get the game back on our side.”
Down 3-2 early in the third period the Broncos went on the power play. When both Glenn Gawdin and Max Lajoie tried to hold a bouncing puck in that allowed Austin Vetterl to jump behind them, draw a penalty and eventually score shorthanded to take away a big opportunity from Swift Current.
The Broncos played from behind all night as they had a good, physical start but couldn't score on their early pressure. Kootenay struck twice in the first period on a Luke Philp deflection and a few minutes later Jaedon Descheneau converted a centering pass from the corner to jump ahead of Swift Current.
“The fact that we were down by two I don't think lessened our resolve or lessened our ability to compete, push back and create opportunities,” Dixon said. “We certainly had those. I felt that we were in the hockey game all the way.”
DeBrusk tied the game in the final minute of the period on a nice rush with Colby Cave and Glenn Gawdin to give the Broncos some life. Kootenay restored their two-goal lead when they sprung Vetterl on a breakaway in the second period. DeBrusk got another one at the end of a 5 on 3 by deflecting in a point shot off his skate.
That's as close as the Broncos could get before Kootenay pulled away in the third period.
Swift Current has now lost eight of their last ten games as injuries have mounted leaving them without their three alternate captains Coda Gordon, Carter Rigby and Dillon Heatherington.
“Sounds a little bit cliche in terms of opportunities that are existing given the players that are out of our lineup but it's true,” Dixon noted. “That's the only way we're going to get out of this not only having our key players step up, but also our supporting cast as well.”
Landon Bow allowed 5 goals on 35 shots in swift Current's goal. Wyatt Hoflin made 22 saves to earn the win for Kootenay.
Swift Current went 1 for 5 on the power play, while holding Kootenay to 0 for 2 on their man advantage.
The Broncos are in Brandon on Tuesday. You can hear the game on The Eagle 94.1 FM starting with our pre-game show at 6:30pm.
Fri, Apr 26, 7:00 PM
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