The Swift Current Broncos will put their season on the line Friday after losing 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday. Hunter St. Martin scored 2:08 into overtime to give the Tigers a 3-1 series lead in the opening round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.
The Broncos scored the opening goal for the first time in the series when Carlin Dezainde kept the puck on a two-on-one and fired home his fourth goal of the playoffs. The Broncos added a power play goal when Clarke Caswell deflected home his second goal. The Tigers replied with their own power play goal as Ryder Ritchie scored his third of the post-season.
The Tigers tied the game 3:59 into the second period when Gavin McKenna scored at the end of a lengthy shift for the Broncos in their defensive zone with a screened shot from the point for his second goal of the series.
The Broncos nearly took the lead early in the third period, but Luke Mistelbacher was stopped on a breakaway. The puck went back the other way and McKenna scored on a one-timer to put the Tigers ahead 3-2. The Broncos tied the game with 1:57 remaining when Mistelbacher one-timed a puck home from the top of the face-off circle for his first goal of the playoffs.
Reid Dyck kept the Broncos in the game with 44 saves. Harrison Meneghin made 25 saves for the Tigers.
Game five of the best-of-seven series will be Friday in Medicine Hat.
