The Swift Current Broncos were unable to close out the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final in their first of three opportunities Friday. The visiting Broncos entered game five leading 3-1 but lost 3-2 to the host Pats.
The Broncos scored the opening goal for the first time in the series when Colby Sissons sent a point shot past a screened Tyler Brown for a power play goal with 2:44 left in the opening period. Sam Steel replied with a power play goal of his own with 13.5 seconds left in the period.
The Pats had come out flying in the period with the first eight shots on goal. The Broncos never got their first shot until 7:30 into regulation, but ended up outshooting the Pats 16-14 after earning three power play opportunities, finally scoring on the third one.
The Pats stormed out of the dressing room again in the second period and were rewarded with goals only 38 seconds apart from Connor Hobbs and Nick Henry. Hobbs tapped home a rebound in the crease on a delayed penalty and Henry one-timed home a cross-ice feed after an ill-advised defensive zone turnover to make it 3-1, a lead the Pats would carry into the third period.
Jordan Papirny stopped Brayden Buziak on a penalty shot in the third period to keep the Broncos within striking distance before Glenn Gawdin got the Broncos within one goal when he scored with 34 seconds left in a five-minute powerplay with his fifth goal of the post-season.
Jordan Papirny stopped 32 of 35 shot to fall to 7–5-0 in the post-season. Tyler Brown improved to 6-0-3 with 30 saves.
Game six will be played Saturday back in Swift Current.
Broncos Bits: Lane Pederson took a huge hit from Dawson Leedahl with 7:47 left in the first period and went awkwardly into the boards and did not return to the game. Both Filip Ahl and Adam Brooks returned to the Pats line-up after missing the past two games. Brandon Arnold made his playoff debut for the Broncos. Arnold suited up for 37 games during the regular season, but was assigned to the Nipawin Hawks of the SJHL after the trade deadline. He was third in league playoff scoring with 13 points in 11 games with Nipawin. The Broncos briefly lost Ryley Lindgren midway through the third period when he was hit by the knee of Austin Wagner, who was assessed a major and a game misconduct.
