A third period power play goal for the Swift Current Broncos turned out to be the difference as they defeated the Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Raider head coach Jeff Truitt says Prince Albert had a strong start.
“I thought that we did a really good job creating momentum for ourselves in the first and put possession and good quality shots and you score a couple. We had a couple of power plays that we just didn’t capitalize on and it was a pretty even game after that. I thought that we played real well for 58 minutes and we took the penalties there in the third and they got it on the power play. That’s the difference of the game.”
The Raiders would open the scoring as Ryder Ritchie would put a rebound home for his eighth goal of the season at the 3:27 mark of the first period. Justice Christensen had the lone assist.
Swift Current would respond three minutes later as Connor Gabriel would strike for his second of the season at the 6:21 mark of the first period. Luke Mistelbacher and Maddix McCagherty assisted on the play.
Brayden Dube would be sprung on a partial breakaway late in the first period and the 18-year-old forward would make no mistake with his fourth goal of the season at the 15:12 mark. Eric Johnston and Christensen provided assists.
The game would be even at 2-2 heading into the intermission as Clarke Caswell would strike for his fourth goal of the campaign at the 18:23 mark. Mathew Ward and Tyson Laventure assisted on the play.
Neither team would find the back of the net in the second period, the Raiders outshot the Broncos 9-4 in the frame.
Truitt says the Broncos did a good job of blocking shots and getting sticks in passing lanes which prevented the Raiders from scoring after the first period.
“I think that they blocked a lot of shots. They collapsed the net an awful lot (and) blocked a lot of shots. They collapsed real hard, you couldn’t make any real in tight plays because they just clogged everything up. Even when you do get the puck out to the point, they’re always in the way. And you’re not getting those clean looks. I thought they did a really good job, especially in the third period when they needed to lock it down.”
Swift Current would take their first lead of the hockey game at the 3:40 mark of the third period. Mathew Ward would score his seventh goal of the season on the power play to give the Broncos a 3-2 lead. Owen Pickering and Josh Filmon assisted on the play.
The Raiders would press down the stretch, but could not find the equalizer as Broncos netminder Reid Dyck made 31 saves in goal for the victory.
Chase Coward made 21 stops in net for the Raiders
The Raiders return to action on Saturday night when they welcome the Swift Current Broncos to the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 7 p.m.
