The visiting Saskatoon Blades scored four consecutive goals to take a 4-1 third period lead before holding off a late charge to upend the host Swift Current Broncos by a 4-3 count on Friday night.
Cameron Hebig paced the Blades attack with a hat trick, while Tyler Lees scored his first of the season and the eventual game winner.
Swift Current jumped out to a 1-0 first period lead when Aleksi Heponiemi scored his ninth of the season when he converted on a breakaway opportunity with 5:53 left in the opening frame.
Hebig counted a natural hat trick in the middle frame, with the overage centre now notching 10 goals on the season.
After Saskatoon opened a 4-1 lead on the Lees goal 5:51 into the final period, Broncos captain Glenn Gawdin replied 12 seconds later with his ninth of the season.
Swift Current made it a one goal game when Artyom Minulin counted his second of the season on the power play with just over 10 minutes left in regulation.
Saskatoon net minder Ryan Kubic was the game’s first star after turning aside 33 of 36 shots and improving his season record to 4-5-1-0. He was busiest in the third period when Swift Current held a 12-8 edge in shots.
Bronco goalie Logan Flodell dropped to 8-1-1-0 on the year after yielding four goals on 33 shots.
The win improves Saskatoon’s season mark to 4-7-1-0, while Swift Current is winless in two games while falling to 9-2-1-0.
Swift Current is looking to rebound on Saturday night when they host the Central Division leading Medicine Hat Tigers (8-5-0-0) in a 7 p.m. start at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex.
