Broncos Tigers Mackay
Zac Mackay battles Jacob Doty (Photo by Darwin Knelsen)

Marek Langhamer made 36 saves including some game saving stops late to lift the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 4-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday. The Highway 1 rivals split a weekend home-and-home series after a 6-4 Broncos win on Friday.

“I thought we played very well,” said Broncos Assistant Coach Darren Evjen. “You've just got to say their goaltender was on one of those games that was just unbelievable.”

Coda Gordon had Swift Current's only goal as he converted a Colby Cave pass from behind the net to pull the Broncos to within two goals. Gordon finished the month of December with 14 points in 11 games.

Broncos Captain Adam Lowry was officially held off the score sheet pending review as it appeared he should have been credited with the second assist on Gordon's goal. His league best goal scoring streak was snapped at 8 games and if the original call holds up his point streak would end at 13 games. Lowry finished the month with 13 goals and 20 points in 11 games.

Swift Current's coaching staff is looking for more out of the rest of their forward group.

“You've got to have those guys step up every once and a while,” Evjen said. “It's been Lowry's line doing a lot of the scoring. We've got to just make sure that they're doing the right things and they've got to capitalize and get us in the games.”

For the second consecutive game Medicine Hat took a 2-0 lead after the first period. Trevor Cox opened the scoring at 10:34 as his shot deflected into the face of Broncos defenceman Reece Scarlett and took Scarlett out of the play before Cox was able to grab the puck and wrist it by Swift Current goaltender Landon Bow. The Tigers struck again just over 2 minutes later as Cox set up Miles Koules at the side of the goal and the rookie forward was able to jam in his 10th of the year.

The Broncos started both the first and second periods with sustained pressure, but were unable to solve Langhamer. They had a power play early in the second period and the Czech netminder shut the door on a couple of good chances including a point-blank opportunity for Cave.

Medicine Hat then extended their lead on a power play goal by Boston Leier that was a key turning point in the game. The 3-0 edge was enough of a cushion to allow the Tigers to hang back and play a defensive style for the rest of the game. It also spelled the end of Landon Bow's night as he allowed 3 goals on 15 shots. Steve Myland stopped all 11 shots he faced in relief.

The Tigers held the Broncos shotless through the first few minutes of the third period before they were able to break through with Gordon's goal and started to generate some sustained pressure. Langhamer robbed Richard Nedomlel, Reece Scarlett and Gordon with some highlight worthy saves on a late Swift Current power play to snuff out any hope of a comeback on back-to-back nights.

The Broncos were playing the game with only 11 forwards and one of them was call-up Jordan Wittman making his WHL debut. The Stewart Valley native was a 3rd round pick of the Broncos in 2011 and plays for the Midget AAA Home Hardware Legionnaires in Swift Current. They were missing forward Brent Benson, Levi Bews, Chance Lund, Josh Derko and Shea Howorko to injury. 

Goaltender Eetu Laurikainen is playing for Finland at the World Junior Championship and defenceman Brycen Martin is suiting up for Team Pacific at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge. Martin had 4 assists and set up the overtime winner as Team Pacific beat Russia 8-7 in their tournament opener on Saturday.

Tigers star Hunter Shinkaruk left the game with a knee injury.

The Broncos went 0 for 3 on the power play, while Medicine Hat went 1 for 5. Swift Current doesn't play again until New Year's Day when they host Lethbridge for a rare afternoon game at 2pm.

Click here for the boxscore

Click here for video highlights