Cranbrook, BC – The Kootenay ICE clinched at least 4th place in the eastern Conference with a 5-4 overtime shootout win over the Swift Current Broncos in WHL action on Friday night.
The loss eliminates Swift Current from making the playoffs.
ICE opened the scoring as Brayden McNabb fed Adam Rossignol in the low circle and took the pass from his skates to the stick and scored before the goalie came across the crease.
Brayden McNabb fed Cody Eakin with a stretch pass and went on a 2-on-1 break and he scored with a wrist shot on the glove side.
Broncos scored on the powerplay as a loose puck was found near the crease and lifted into the net by Brad Hoban.
Early in the 2nd period Joey Leach’s point shot was deflected by Joe Antilla and skipped over the goalies reaching leg.
Midway through the period the ICE dumped the puck into the zone and Steele Boomer won the race for the puck and banked the puck off the back off the goalie and in rolled into the net.
In the 3rd period the Broncos scored on the powerplay as Stepan Novotny went end-to-end and scored on a breakaway with a backhand deke through the legs.
Late in the 3rd period the Broncos got within a goal as Adam Lowry banged in his own rebound.
The Broncos pulled their goalie and tied the game 4-4 as Graham Black, in his 2nd WHL game, banged in a rebound.
The ICE won the shootout 2-1 on goals by Cody Eakin and Max Reinhart.
Graham Black scored for the Broncos.
The Broncos are now 0-34-0-1 when trailing after 2 periods.
ICE have 4 games left in the regular season and will visit Spokane on Saturday.
ICE Scratches – Luke Paulsen (8th game shoulder 4 weeks), Brock Montgomery (9th game hip 1 week), Brett Teskey (3rd goalie).
Game Summary
Swift Current 25-41-0-2 Kootenay 43-21-1-3
1st Period
1. Kootenay, Rossignol 2 (McNabb, Hurley) 3:22
2. Kootenay, Eakin 33 (McNabb, Skapski) 10:32
3. Swift Current, Hoban 20 (Vause, Verdino) 14:53 pp
Penalties – Boomer Ktn (hooking) 4:44, Craig SC Fraser Ktn (fighting) 7:18, Peddle SC Boomer Ktn (roughing) 12:48, Rintoul Ktn (cross checking) 13:06.
2nd Period
4. Kootenay, Antilla 20 (Leach, King) 1:25
5. Kootenay, Boomer 13 11:25
Penalties – Eakin Ktn (hooking) 13:00, Derko SC (holding) 14:59, Muth SC Hurley Ktn (fighting) 18:39.
3rd Period
6. Swift Current, Novotny 21 5:59 pp
7. Swift Current, Lowry 18 (Vause, Nedomlel) 15:55
8. Swift Current, Black 1 (Lowry, Hoban) 19:36
Penalties – Boomer Ktn (goalie interference) 5:25, Magnus SC (goalie interference) 6:59, Verdino SC Fraser Ktn (roughing) 8:46, Leach Ktn (interference) 13:34.
Overtime
No Scoring.
Penalties – None.
Shootout
Swift Current - Hoban, miss; Black, goal; Novotny, miss; Bloom, miss.
Kootenay – Ismond, miss; Eakin, goal; Fraser, miss; Reinhart, goal.
Shots on goal by
Swift Current – 9 - 3 – 8 – 2 = 22
Kootenay - 13 – 19 – 12 – 2 = 46
Goal (shots-saves) – Swift Current: Mark Friesen (L 24-34-0-2) (46-42) Kootenay: Mackenzie Skapski (W 2-1-0-0) (22-18)
Power plays (goals-chances) – Swift Current: 2/5 Kootenay: 0/2
Referees – Steve Papp, Colin Watt
Linesmen – Jeff Jobson, Jim Maniago
Attendance – 2,590