Broncos Tigers Merkley


Medicine Hat struck three times on the power play in the second period on the way to a 3-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday night.

Boston Leier scored twice for the Tigers as they handed Swift Current their first regulation loss of the season.

“Some of them you have to give Medicine Hat credit for they have a lot of skill up front,” said Broncos Associate Coach Darren Evjen. “They move the puck well and they're always moving... you've got to keep structure you can't let pucks go through you at all. You've got to keep them to the outside and make them shoot because if they start making passes through the middle they're going to connect on a few.”

Graham Black had the lone got for Swift Current as he scored on the power play for the third straight game. The Broncos have only scored once at even strength in their last three games.

“Well that's where our offensive guys have to start creating some chances,” Evjen said. “We have to make puck decisions quicker and when plays are there we need to make them.”

The Tigers came out firing the puck at Eetu Laurikainen sending 15 shots his way to only 8 for the Broncos in the first period. Laurikainen was very good early and made several big saves on point blank chances throughout the game.

Medicine Hat broke the game open in the second period by converting on every power play chance they had in the frame. Leier opened the scoring at 6:54 when he pass across the crease deflected off Laurikainen and in. He then added another goal at 11:34 beating Laurikainen short side from a tough angle.

Cole Sanford extended the Medicine Hat lead to 3-0 with his 5th of the young season on the rebound of a Ty Lewington point shot. Sanford scored only twice last season.

The Broncos started to get some energy back late in the period and into the third when the line of Jay Merkley, Glenn Gawdin and Jake DeBrusk were re-united. They teamed up to have some strong games in the pre-season and seemed to spark Swift Current to a strong push in the third period.

“They seemed like they had lots of energy out there,” Evjen said. “They have good skill all three guys and created some opportunities. That's a big positive for us. We need some other guys to jump in that's for sure.”

Black got the Broncos on the board on the power play when he ripped the rebound of a Dillon Heatherington point shot over the blocker of Daniel Wapple. He has a goal in each game since returning from New Jersey Devils camp.

“Lots of push back,” Evjen said. “But we need to win more battles with the puck and we need to make decisions throughout the game better with the puck.”

Wapple made 34 saves for the Tigers to earn the victory. Laurikainen stopped 34 of Medicine Hat's 37 shots to get tagged for the loss.

Swift Current drops to 2-1-0-1 on the season and the Tigers move to 3-1.

The next action for the Broncos is on Wednesday at home against the rebuilding Saskatoon Blades. Swift Current has three games in four days on home ice this week. They also host Regina on Friday and Prince Albert on Saturday.

You can hear all the games on The Eagle 94.1 FM and we'll talk Broncos hockey during Home Hardware's Overtime on Monday from 6-7pm.

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