The Regina Pats opened their doors and hosted the Swift Current Broncos at the Brandt Centre for Game 3 of this opening series. With the series tied 1-1, it was a pivotal game.
Not surprisingly, Stuart Skinner started in net for Swift Current while Regina stayed with Ryan Kubic as well. Jesse Gabrielle was a question mark up until the last moment before puck drop, when it was finally decided that he would play.
Before the puck even dropped, Glenn Gawdin and Sam Steel pushed and shoved at the face-off dot until the ref had to separate them. It was all Regina in the beginning of the period. When Andrew Fyten took a hooking penalty, the Pats over-cycled the puck and the Broncos defence stepped up to the challenge. Beck Malenstyn and Kaden Elder would get a good chance during a 2 on 1, but Elder’s shot was eventually blocked and the game remained scoreless in spite of the chances by both teams.
The first goal was scored by Swift Current as Tyler Steenbergen got tripped behind the Pats net and passed out front to Colby Sissons. Sissons opened the scoring with a one-timer, making it a 1-0 game. A bench minor for too-many-men to the Pats gave the visiting team a 2-0 edge when Giorgio Estephan passed to Glenn Gawdin. The captain scored on the power play, which was a tough pill for Regina to swallow considering they out-played Swift Current for most of the period. The shining star for the Broncos in the first period was Stuart Skinner. Throughout the entire 20 minutes, Skinner was solid in net.
Again, Regina was clearly the dominant team in the middle frame. They played fast and hard, setting the pace for most of the period. The Pats had plenty of shots on net, but Stuart Skinner denied every chance. The Broncos best chance at a goal was during a steal by Aleksi Heponiemi, who took the puck up ice on a turnover, but Kubic wouldn’t allow it. Of the limited chances Swift Current had in the Regina zone, the Pats defence denied every shot by blocking shots or knocking the Broncos off the puck. Swift Current played mostly defence throughout the middle period. Regina did a great job of screening Skinner in the Broncos zone, but the Broncos goalie was on point, allowing nothing past him again. Matt Bradley had a good chance on goal from the side of the net. Many thought the puck went in, but it only tumbled along the outside of the net and back towards the boards. It was a physical period with bodies flying against boards on both ends. But the score remained 2-0 in favour of Swift Current through 40 minutes.
The third period was even more physical than the first 40 minutes. And it all started when the Pats drew a hooking call on Beck Malenstyn. As the penalty expired, Giorgio Estephan capitalized on a turnover in the Pats zone by passing to Tanner Nagel, who took a hard shot from the slot. It was 3-0 for Swift Current early in the third period. A few minutes later, Cameron Hebig caused some trouble in front of Skinner by landing in the penalty box for slashing (which looked to be more of a spear than a slash). Skinner retaliated and ended up getting a roughing penalty, negating the potential for a Broncos power play. Instead, the teams played some 4-on-4 and the Pats Emil Oksanen capitalized as Skinner let one trickle over the line even though he got a piece of it. The score was 3-1 in favour of the visitors.
The fans got to see the best of Glenn Gawdin a few seconds later as he stormed over the blue line and let a shot rip at Kubic to reinstate the Broncos three-goal lead. From that point, Swift Current took over the game and put some pressure on the Regina netminder. However, Kubic stood solid in net for the Pats and the score was finalized at 4-1 for Swift Current.
Final Thoughts
Jake Leschyshyn’s speed is amazing. Before the Broncos defence could get back to the puck in their own zone, Leschyshyn would be right beside them. And his passing skills from behind the net while on his knees was something legends are made of. He’s a skilled forward with natural talent that is hard to beat.
Jesse Gabrielle is a good wingman. He may not score the goals, he may not be the hero, but he has a hand in some of the most important plays and chances on net.
Beck Malenstyn is outstanding at putting consistent pressure on the opposition in order to wear them down. Shot after shot, hit after hit, he kept the play in the offensive zone to help his team create more chances on net. With a total of 39 saves on 40 shots, Stuart Skinner was easily the player of the game. He won this game for the visiting team and he was solid in net. His positioning was on point, he devoured rebounds, and he looked calm and confident throughout the entire game.
This series is now 2-1 for the Swift Current Broncos. The teams take a day off and they’ll return to the Brandt Centre in Regina for Game 4 on Wednesday, March 28.
