The Swift Current Broncos inability to kill penalties caught up to them once again in a 3-2 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders Sunday.
The Broncos allowed three power play goals for a third straight game as they lost to the last-place Raiders, who were playing their third game in as many days. Max Martin handed the Broncos their fourth straight loss when he scored on a point shot with six seconds left in regulation.
The Raiders had taken an early lead on a goal from former Bronco Cavin Leth. Kaden Elder quickly responded with a tip-in power play goal for a 1-1 tie after one period. Arthur Miller scored the only goal of the second period when he knocked home a rebound in the crease for a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.
Curtis Miske tied the game with a power play goal midway through the period before the Raiders scored late for their second straight win to improve to 13-35-3-2.
Nicholas Sanders made 27 saves, including three breakaway saves on Broncos’ sniper Tyler Steenbergen, to improve to 7-10-1-2.
Jordan Papirny allowed three goals on 32 shots to fall to 13-12-1-0 on the season.
The Broncos dropped to 25-17-3-5 with their sixth loss in the past seven games.
“I think it is just the little things,” said rookie defenseman Jake Hobson of the recent slide. “We need to bear down in the corners and just getting passes stick on stick. If we clean up the little things I think we will be alright in the second half here.”
The Broncos had the benefit of having six days off to refine their game prior to Sunday’s loss.
“We just have to bear down on the little things. It all starts in practice right. We have to start working harder in practice. We have to start coming to the rink ready to work,” said Hobson.
The 5’11’’ defenseman was playing in his seventh game with the Broncos since being acquired from the Portland Winterhawks at the trade deadline.
“It has been good. The guys are great. The coaches are awesome. It has been pretty good so far.”
He saw increased minutes on Sunday playing with Max Lajoie in the absence of Artyom Minulin, who was away from the team for the CHL Top Prospects Game.
“It was good. It felt nice playing with Max, he is a great player so it is easy to play with him.”
The Prince Albert native hopes to help the Broncos make a strong playoff push this season.
“To start off just making that first quick pass out of the defensive zone, getting pucks in and deep, and just jumping in the rush as much as I can,” he said of his role on the team.
The Broncos are back at home Wednesday to host the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Extras: Sunday likely marked the final WHL game at the Credit Union iplex for Raiders’ captain Tim Vanstone. The Swift Current native is on pace to reach 300 games this season and has 21 points in 49 games during his fifth and final season.
