Cranbrook, BC – Swift Current goalie Eetu Laurikainen made 39 saves, including 25 in the first period in a 5-2 win over the Kootenay ICE in WHL action on Friday night.
Both teams were shutout in their last game and both scored goals early in the game.
The ICE (4-8-0-0) scored on their 3rd shot on net with a rebound goal by Jon Martin.
Less than 2 minutes later the Broncos (5-6-3-1) tied the game with Levi Bews alone in the slot.
The Broncos took a 2-1 lead off a faceoff win and Richard Nedomlel’s point shot deflected by through the goalies’ legs by Chance Lund.
The Broncos scored 11 seconds into a powerplay with defenseman Reece Scarlett finishing off a 3-way passing play.
The ICE had 2 5-on-3 powerplay in the first period with both 1-minute long and helped them to a season high 26 shots on goal in the period.
Kootenay set a Franchise Record with shots on goal in a period. (25 Feb 3/01 in Tri City)
Early in the second period the Broncos made it 4-1 as defenseman Dillon Heatherington’s shot from the boards deflected off an ICE skate and went into the top corner of the net.
Midway through the period the ICE scored on the powerplay with Levi Cable near the net to punch in a loose puck in the crease.
Early in the third period the Broncos scored on the powerplay with Ryan Moser feeding Colby Cave at the far crease for a redirection goal.
Kootenay has lost 4 games in a row.
The ICE will host Saskatoon on Friday.
The ICE were one skater short of a complete line-up with 11 forwards.
ICE Scratches – Tanner Muth (day-to-day), Collin Shirley (day-to-day), Drew Czerwonka (retired).
Game Summary
Swift Current 6-6-3-1 Kootenay 4-9-0-0
1st Period-
1, Kootenay, Martin 2 (Cable, O'Connor), 2:15.
2, Swift Current, Bews 6 (Benson), 4:03.
3, Swift Current, Lund 5 (Nedomlel, Lowry), 6:30.
4, Swift Current, Scarlett 1 (Gordon, Nedomlel), 11:11 (PP).
Penalties-Simpson Ktn (interference), 10:59; Zinkan S.c (holding), 12:53; Cave S.c (elbowing), 13:55; Scarlett S.c (delay of game), 14:48; Cave S.c (tripping), 17:27.
2nd Period-
5, Swift Current, Heatherington 2 3:01.
6, Kootenay, Cable 1 (Benoit, O'Connor), 9:25 (PP).
Penalties-Lund S.c (inter. on goaltender), 8:05; Cave S.c (interference), 10:59; Faith Ktn (holding), 16:24.
3rd Period-
7, Swift Current, Cave 4 (Moser, Scarlett), 1:51 (PP).
Penalties-Boyd Ktn (tripping), 0:35; Heatherington S.c (holding), 14:28.
Shots on Goal-Swift Current 7-9-9-25. Kootenay 26-6-9-41.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 2 / 3; Kootenay 1 / 7.
Goalies-Swift Current, Laurikainen 6-5-2-1 (41 shots-39 saves). Kootenay, Skapski 4-5-0-0 (25 shots-20 saves).
A-2,230
Referees-Colin Stefanyk (14), Colin Watt (72).
Linesmen-Aidan Henderson (78), Michael Roberts (87).