BHP Recap: Broncos Battled but Fall to Smith, Ice Wolves
Photo: Marla Possberg Photography There’s no debating the Broncos were the better team on Wednesday night, but thanks to a hot goaltender and two costly turnovers, it wasn’t the way the cookie crumbled on the scoreboard.
For the fifth and final time this season, the Humboldt Broncos and La Ronge Ice Wolves took to the ice, with Humboldt winning three of the previous four. The Broncos controlled most of the game, outshooting the Wolves 33-21. However, La Ronge capitalized on their few chances while riding the hot hand of goalie, Dawson Smith enroute to a 3-1 victory.
Alec Saretzky extended his goal-scoring streak to five games with his team-leading 14th goal of the season, tipping in a point shot from Chase Cooke for a 1-0 Humbodlt Lead. Evidently the Broncos needed to create more net front traffic and make life a tad more difficult for Smith, who went on to stop every shot face from there on out.
Two turnovers in the defensive zone led the Wolves to tying the game in the second period, and taking the lead in the third, arguably the only two glaring mistakes the Broncos made all game.
Powerplays also favoured the Wolves, but both teams were unable to find the back of the net on the man-advantage. La Ronge went 0/5 while the Broncos went 0/2.
The loss drops the Broncos record to 18-9-1-0, where they currently sit in 6th place, albeit, having a number of games-in-hand over 3 of the 5 teams ahead of them.
With the season series now over, the Broncos will turn their attention to their final two games before the holiday break.
They will have a matinee matchup on the road at 12:30pm, Friday, December 16th in Kindersley, before wrapping it up back at home on Saturday against Weyburn.