It was Malenstyn’s Valentine’s night at the Credit Union iPlex where fans could purchase specially made cookies with proceeds going to the Heart and Stroke foundation in Swift Current as the Broncos hosted the Brandon Wheat Kings on Valentine’s Day.
Swift Current is 4-1 so far through the month of February. They can add another win to that record with tonight’s decision over Brandon. With Moose Jaw in first place in the Eastern Division, this was a must-win game for the Broncos as they hosted the Wheat Kings for the second time in one week. Scratched for the Broncos were Tanner Nagel, Quinton Waitzner, and Connor Horning.
With Stuart Skinner in net, the Broncos started Colby Sissions and Artyom Minulin on the blue line and Glenn Gawdin, Tyler Steenbergen, and Max Patterson up front. It was a slow start for the home team in the first couple minutes, Stuart Skinner digging them out early. Beck Malenstyn played a feisty first period, making friends in front of the Brandon net, fighting for his position, and taking shots. Later in the period, Malenstyn had a chance on net after carrying the puck from one end to the other, but he just couldn’t finish. Jacson Alexander had a good shot on net after being left open and Kole Gable stood out early in the game. The Broncos continued putting pressure on the Wheat Kings, but the Brandon defense was starting to push back. It was all Swift Current during the first period as they came out swinging. The only good chance the Wheat Kings had on Skinner was in the middle of the period when they hit a post on an open side of the net. Swift Current would open the scoring when the puck would return to the Brandon zone from the Broncos end and Colby Sissions would slap one home with the help of Tyler Steenbergen and Glenn Gawdin. It was 1-0 heading into the second period with the shots on net 21-10 in favour of the home team.
The Swift Current Broncos opened the middle period with good passing plays, but just couldn’t finish. It seems that the Broncos are snake-bitten during middle periods lately. They skate slower, the energy is less, and the impact is not as good as the other two periods of play. Tonight was no exception. Kaden Elder rushed the net but got tripped up and couldn’t get a shot off. About halfway into the period, the Wheat Kings frustrations were showing in the form of pushing and shoving after all the Broncos chances on net. But their aggressiveness paid off as they pushed back and tied the game 1-1. Swift Current responded only seconds later with the go-ahead goal by Kole Gable. The Wheat Kings kept pressuring the Broncos physically. Before the end of the period, Brandon would tie the game 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. Swift Current would put some pressure on the Brandon net to end the period, but it was the minor mistakes that cost them the lead. Shots on goal were still in favour of the home team 28-21.
Swift Current would take two penalties to start the final period and Brandon would have a man in the box, giving the visiting team the man advantage. A slash on Jacson Alexander would send him to the bench holding his hand/wrist while Noah King would step up and take down the perpetrator against the boards, leading to the Wheat Kings having a man advantage. They couldn’t capitalize and Tyler Steenbergen would notch his 40th goal of the season, giving the home team a 3-2 lead. The Broncos would put more pressure on the Brandon goal than in the middle period, but it didn’t seem to be enough. The Wheat Kings defense turned them away at every shot. Once the puck went the other way, Brandon was playing a desperate game of hockey, knowing they’d need a goal to have any chance of survival in the game. Swift Current paced themselves, took their time, and tried to set up plays. With an empty net, Glenn Gawdin would get the insurance goal to finalize the home town win 4-2. Skinner made 31 stops on 33 shots and saved his team a few times throughout the game.
Traci’s 1 Star – Tyler Steenbergen.
With a goal, two assists, and a +3 rating, it’s nice to see Steenbergen shake the lack of scoring period he had after he returned from the World Juniors. He was an energy player who generated chances on net and played well against the boards. With his 40th goal of the season, he earned my 1 star of the night.
The Broncos return to the iPlex ice on Friday when they host the Medicine Hat Tigers in a home and home match-up this weekend.
