The Swift Current Broncos took advantage of a shorthanded opponent for an 8-4 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers in front of another sellout crowd of 2,865 fans at the InnovationPlex on Friday.
Luke Mistelbacher finished with five points as the Broncos scored three power play goals and one shorthanded to continue their domination of the rival Tigers.
The Tigers took an early lead with a Tomas Mrsic goal only 3:28 into regulation. The Broncos answered with a power play goal from Mistelbacher, his 20th goal of the season. They added a Tyson Galloway goal 45 seconds later. Owen Pickering scored with 31 seconds remaining in the opening period when he finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play from Brady Birnie into a wide-open goal.
The Broncos were out on the front foot to open the second period and were rewarded with a Birnie goal on a nearly length of the ice pass off the end boards from Rylan Gould. The Tigers replied midway through the period with another Mrsic goal. The Broncos quickly replied with a power play goal from Gould.
The Broncos made it 6-2 in the third period when Clarke Caswell found a loose puck in the slot and buried his 22nd of the season. Ty Coupland added a power play goal minutes later to increase the lead to five goals. Medicine Hat quickly replied with a Kadon McCann goal. Ryan McCleary enhanced the Tigers misery with a late power play goal, his 10th goal of the season for his hometown team. Rhett Parsons quickly replied with a power play goal to make the score 8-4.
Reid Dyck made 31 saves to improve to 24-6-2-0 for the Broncos with his 13th straight win. Zach Zahara allowed four goals on 22 shots over 22:41 of work. Ethan McCallum allowed four goals on 17 shots in relief.
The Broncos improved to 37-20–4-2 to move three points ahead of the Tigers (35-23-5-2) for the Central Division lead.
The Broncos and Tigers will rematch on Saturday in Medicine Hat.
Bronco Bits: Mistelbacher finished with one goal and four assists. He has 12 points in seven games against the Tigers this season. Pickering added three assists for a four-point outing. The Broncos now lead the season series by a 6-1-1-0 margin over the Tigers. The Broncos improved to 23-5-3-1 at home this season.
