Written by: Rory McGouran
Photo by: Marla Possberg
The playoffs got one big step closer thanks to an even bigger night from Broncos’s Defensemen Doug Scott.
It was a night to remember for Scott, who put up 4 goals, as the Broncos defeated the Kindersley Klippers 6-3 on February 17th in front of a packed crowd at the Elgar Petersen Arena. The Broncos came into the Monday matinee matchup 6 points up on Kindersley for the final playoff spot, and all but guaranteed a playoff spot following the victory.
The Klippers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Broncos, as they have done all year, did not give up. Doug Scott scored his first of the night in the last minute of the opening frame to cut the lead to 2-1.
Scott’s offensive outburst continued late in the second period. He added his second goal of the game, on the powerplay, to tie things up 2-2 heading into the third.
In the third period, Scott completed the natural hattrick with his second powerplay goal of the game to give the Broncos their first lead. The powerplay kept on clicking in the final frame as Tristan Shewchuk scored his team-leading 29th to put the Broncos up 4-2. After the Klippers got back within one, Scott once again beat Klipper’s goalie Steven Backovsky for his fourth goal of the game, and his third on the powerplay. Braiden Koran added an empty netter to ice the game and secure a 6-3 victory.
Specialty teams were clicking on both sides for the green and gold. The powerplay when 4 for 9, while the penalty kill was successful 8 of the 9 times. Brendan Forman stopped 29 of 32 shots for his second straight victory.
The Broncos played 3 games in 4 days over the long weekend and picked up 4 of 6 possible points.
The win all but guarantees the Broncos a playoff spot with an eight-point cushion over the Klippers. Kindersley has five games remaining and they would have to win all five, while the Broncos would have to lose their remaining four to see the Klippers knock the Broncos out of a playoff spot.
The Broncos will look to officially clinch a playoff spot with a road victory in Melville on Wednesday, February 19th.