Tigers Shutout Broncos

Marek Langhamer made 38 saves as the Medicine Hat Tiger shutout the Swift Current Broncos 2-0 on Saturday night. The Tigers swept the home and home between the two clubs to move four points up on the Broncos and remain 6^th in the Eastern Conference.

Langhamer has foiled the Broncos in three different starts this season, allowing only two goals over that span.

“It really is frustrating because we're doing a lot of good things,” said Broncos Assistant Coach Jamie Heward. “When you get that many shots, that many chances eventually something has to go in. We've got guys who are a little bit snake bit right now but we saw a lot of good things and hopefully they can find a way to break out of slumps and give us a little bit of a lift.”

The Broncos have dropped three games in a row, four of their last five and have only scored six goals over those five games.

“When you don't score goals you start to squeeze your stick a little bit” Heward said. “You're not seeing the play as good as you were if you're scoring lots of goals... sometimes the try to hard theory comes in to play and the guys try to create something out of nothing instead of going with what your instincts allow you to do.”

Curtis Valk opened the scoring for the Tigers early in the first period as he deflected a Hunter Shinkaruk pass out of the air for his 38^th of the year. That's all they would need before a Boston Leier iced the game with an empty net goal late in the third.
Eetu Laurikainen made 22 saves for the Broncos in a losing cause as Swift Current really limited the scoring chances allowed against a very good Medicine Hat offence.

“It's a matter of taking away time and space,” Heward said. “When you've got forwards that are committed to doing a good job back checking...it makes the defenceman's job easier. Guys like Scarlett, Heatherington and Nedomlel stepped up and played very well against a good group of forwards.”

Swift Current went 0 for 2 on the power play and Medicine Hat went 0 for 3.

The Tigers move four points ahead of the Broncos in 6^th place in the Eastern Conference. A win by Kootenay against Calgary moves the 8^th place Ice to within a point of the 7^th place Bronocs. Lethbridge is three points back in 9^th.

The Broncos go right back to work against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Sunday night. You can hear the game on The Eagle 94.1 FM with The New Pioneer Co-op Home Centre Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.