Big Ern
02-17-2009, 11:43 PM
For the second straight game, the Swift Current Broncos came up with a flat first period....this time versus the offensively potent Brandon Wheat Kings. And the 3-0 Brandon lead after one frame ended up hurting the Broncos...just as bad as Saskatoon's 3-0 lead after one period hurt them three days ago. The Broncos turned things around in the second and third but again, it was too little too late. The Wheaties got away with a 4-2 victory.
Brayden Schenn, Matt Calvert, and Jordan Hale lit the lamp for the visitors in the first period. The Broncos struggled to gain any sort of control or puck possession, and were outplayed in almost every area. And the five minor penalties they took did not make things any easier...Brandon would score two of their first period markers on the man advantage. As a result, the home crowd factor was taken completely out of the equation early on, and the home team looked down and out after 20. Captain Derek Claffey made an effort to change that when he fought Brandon's Matt Lowry late in the frame.
Things would change somewhat in the second period, as the Broncos' defense slowed down the Brandon attack. The play evened out and both sides got an equal number of opportunities. Swift Current capitalized at 12:35, as Michael Stickland shot home a puck that bounced out in front off the boards. The Broncos would go on to assert more pressure on Brandon....and even drew a penalty late as Matt Lowry got whistled down for roughing, but could not cut the Wheaties' lead to one on the powerplay. The score was still 3-1 in favour of Brandon after two.
The third frame was all Swift Current. The guys came out with vigor and a purpose. Brandon was pressured into protecting their zone, and fired only two shots on goal. Dillon Wagner, who was a physical presence all game tonight, wowed fans with his effort and tenacity down low. The Broncos capitalized early on as Geordie Wudrick continued his late streak of scoring big goals when he fired home a wrist shot from the slot off a pretty pass from Jan Dalecky. Joel Rogers grabbed the crowd's attention with a devastating check on Brandon's Aaron Lewadniuk for the uncontested hit of the game. The turning point came with around three minutes to go, as the Broncos were handed a 5 on 3 man advantage in a 3-2 game. It was a must-score situation and poor execution on the powerplay proved to be devastating. They failed to capitalize. The Wheat Kings answered quickly thereafter as Matt Calvert went racing up-ice and scored the killer on Travis Yonkman at 17:50 to deal the final blow.
Game over.
This was the sixth meeting of the season between these two clubs...and the sixth win in the season series for the Brandon Wheat Kings. Brandon's big plays always seem to be more timely, and the Broncos end up falling short. Brandon's star players were on tonight, while the Broncos' top line had it's share of difficulties. And they were missing Matt Tassone....but saying that is an excuse. Although very much in every game versus Brandon, they have found ways to lose to them six times this season....if not by a lacklustre third period, then by a lacklustre first. It almost seems like one of those inexplicable records in the game of hockey.
.........
The team now waits two days before hosting the Kootenay Ice on Friday night, and then getting a seventh chance at the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday...this time in Brandon's Westman Place. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Kootenay Ice are coming in very much in the Western Conference playoff picture, sporting a team that's been known for it's work ethic and the knack of being "in the mix" year after year. They also have a Christian Magnus and a James Martin the Broncos used to call their own.
I guess the bottom line for the Broncos is to regroup and have the quick starts their home atmosphere is capable of providing, instead of sitting back and letting the other team take over to start the game. Also, their has to be some focus that will go towards the powerplay....something that we all know hasn't gone very smoothly of late.
We'll see what happens. LET'S GO SWIFTY!!!
EXTRAS:
-a little bird told me Matt Tassone is fighting through this shoulder injury like all the others and will be back in the line-up sooner rather than later.....
-Taylor Vause was out tonight battling the flu. The Broncos were no doubt missing Taylor up front...he has provided an offensive spark for most of the season.
-2544 in attendance was awesome for a Tuesday night. There looked to be a lot of empty seats to start, but things quickly filled up.
-LOTS of scouts were here to see this one.
-the blue larger size text I'm using today is for a change of scenery...if you will.
Ciao.
Brayden Schenn, Matt Calvert, and Jordan Hale lit the lamp for the visitors in the first period. The Broncos struggled to gain any sort of control or puck possession, and were outplayed in almost every area. And the five minor penalties they took did not make things any easier...Brandon would score two of their first period markers on the man advantage. As a result, the home crowd factor was taken completely out of the equation early on, and the home team looked down and out after 20. Captain Derek Claffey made an effort to change that when he fought Brandon's Matt Lowry late in the frame.
Things would change somewhat in the second period, as the Broncos' defense slowed down the Brandon attack. The play evened out and both sides got an equal number of opportunities. Swift Current capitalized at 12:35, as Michael Stickland shot home a puck that bounced out in front off the boards. The Broncos would go on to assert more pressure on Brandon....and even drew a penalty late as Matt Lowry got whistled down for roughing, but could not cut the Wheaties' lead to one on the powerplay. The score was still 3-1 in favour of Brandon after two.
The third frame was all Swift Current. The guys came out with vigor and a purpose. Brandon was pressured into protecting their zone, and fired only two shots on goal. Dillon Wagner, who was a physical presence all game tonight, wowed fans with his effort and tenacity down low. The Broncos capitalized early on as Geordie Wudrick continued his late streak of scoring big goals when he fired home a wrist shot from the slot off a pretty pass from Jan Dalecky. Joel Rogers grabbed the crowd's attention with a devastating check on Brandon's Aaron Lewadniuk for the uncontested hit of the game. The turning point came with around three minutes to go, as the Broncos were handed a 5 on 3 man advantage in a 3-2 game. It was a must-score situation and poor execution on the powerplay proved to be devastating. They failed to capitalize. The Wheat Kings answered quickly thereafter as Matt Calvert went racing up-ice and scored the killer on Travis Yonkman at 17:50 to deal the final blow.
Game over.
This was the sixth meeting of the season between these two clubs...and the sixth win in the season series for the Brandon Wheat Kings. Brandon's big plays always seem to be more timely, and the Broncos end up falling short. Brandon's star players were on tonight, while the Broncos' top line had it's share of difficulties. And they were missing Matt Tassone....but saying that is an excuse. Although very much in every game versus Brandon, they have found ways to lose to them six times this season....if not by a lacklustre third period, then by a lacklustre first. It almost seems like one of those inexplicable records in the game of hockey.
.........
The team now waits two days before hosting the Kootenay Ice on Friday night, and then getting a seventh chance at the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday...this time in Brandon's Westman Place. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Kootenay Ice are coming in very much in the Western Conference playoff picture, sporting a team that's been known for it's work ethic and the knack of being "in the mix" year after year. They also have a Christian Magnus and a James Martin the Broncos used to call their own.
I guess the bottom line for the Broncos is to regroup and have the quick starts their home atmosphere is capable of providing, instead of sitting back and letting the other team take over to start the game. Also, their has to be some focus that will go towards the powerplay....something that we all know hasn't gone very smoothly of late.
We'll see what happens. LET'S GO SWIFTY!!!
EXTRAS:
-a little bird told me Matt Tassone is fighting through this shoulder injury like all the others and will be back in the line-up sooner rather than later.....
-Taylor Vause was out tonight battling the flu. The Broncos were no doubt missing Taylor up front...he has provided an offensive spark for most of the season.
-2544 in attendance was awesome for a Tuesday night. There looked to be a lot of empty seats to start, but things quickly filled up.
-LOTS of scouts were here to see this one.
-the blue larger size text I'm using today is for a change of scenery...if you will.
Ciao.