Special teams simply that for Broncos in game three “Bourgault Cup” victory

The Broncos have taken a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven quarter-final series with the Melfort Mustangs following Tuesday’s 4-1 win.

After a goalless first period the Broncos took a 1-0 lead off the stick of Xavier Labelle at the 1:20 mark of the second period. Labelle’s first career Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) was assisted by Brayden Camrud and Kaleb Dahlgren. The Mustangs would tie the score late in the second period; Tyler Heidt beat Parker Tobin with just 30 seconds left in the frame knotting the score at 1-1.

The Broncos were pinned deep inside their zone for a large portion of the opening half of the third period but managed to keep Melfort scoreless before busting the game open. Dahlgren scored at the 14:42 mark from Labelle and Jacob Leicht. Former Mustang Jaxon Joseph continues to clobber his former club; he rifled his fifth goal of the series past Evan Plotnik with just under four minutes to play from Bryce Fiske and Nick Shumlanski. Camrud found the empty net late to secure the win. Dahlgren said his game winning goal is likely the biggest of his four year career.

“It’s up there for sure. Scoring that one was huge for the series and the boys. We played a heck of a game,” he said.

The Broncos killed all six penalties they took including a five-minute major to Ryan Straschnitzki after the defenseman hit Kayle Tosh awkwardly into the boards. The Broncos themselves capitalized on two of five power-plays of their own in the win.

Tobin stopped 27 shots in his Humboldt playoff debut, Plotnik allowed three goals on 26 Humboldt offerings. Dahlgren said the team survived an early third period push allowing a chance to pick up the victory.

“We had to persist and keep trucking along. We knew they would have a good push coming out in the third and they sure did but we kept them to the outside and that helped our success. We capitalized on our chances and now we need to do that tomorrow,” Dahlgren said.

The win sets up the Broncos to take a stranglehold on the series at home Wednesday, face-off is 7:30 p.m. The Broncos office is open for tickets from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.