The most basic - and only - requirement for winning a hockey game is to score more goals than your opponent. It's a deceivingly simple threshold, one that has, at times, tripped up the relatively low-scoring Humboldt Broncos this season.
Fortunately for Dean Brockman and his coaching staff, the team's sometimes-slow offence came to life in the third period of a 3-1 win over the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Nov. 19.
"I hope our offence will get better as the season moves along," Brockman said after the game. "It was a tough game because it seemed like our guys were just skating around at the beginning and not doing much."
To Brockman's point, it was a strange game from the start. The opening face off was delayed by 20 minutes as the Ice Wolves struggled to make it to Humboldt from the snowy north. When things finally got underway the game was a bit choppy, with the teams combining for only three shots in the first six minutes.
From there the Broncos began to take control. Their puck possession was rewarded when Cody Pongracz got a pass from Stuart Symenuk in front of the net and beat Ice Wolves goalie Dasan Sydora to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead.
Less than four minutes later the Broncos gave their lead away when Ice Wolves' star Owen LaClare beat Cade Spencer with a wrist shot from the right side. It was a disappointing end to a period that the Broncos had dominated for the most part.
The teams then took to the ice for a second period devoid of almost any action, excitement or intrigue. It was a 20-minute slog that sucked the energy out of the crowd, a slow second act before the rousing finish.
In the third the Broncos' offence finally came to life, but not before Spencer made several key saves that kept the game tied at one. It's a trend that has popped up again and again during this season: Almost every time the team has needed a big save, either Spencer or Ryland Pashovitz has stepped up.
It's especially important for a team that doesn't always score easily.
"Our margin for error is smaller because we don't score as easily as other teams," Brockman said.
After the first few minutes, the Broncos dominated the rest of the third period by keeping the puck in the Ice Wolves' end.
Their persistence finally paid off on the power play when Dylan Fluter scored after a shot from David Miazga left a juicy rebound sitting right on the goal line. It was a big goal for the veteran Fluter, who hadn't scored since late September.
"It was nice to get that monkey off my back," Fluter said after the game.
Getting Fluter back on track could be critical. He has the potential to be a prolific scorer and that's something the Broncos certainly lack.
"When Dylan's playing well, he's a lot of fun to watch," Brockman said. "It was great to see him get one tonight."
Even with some issues to sort out, the Broncos are playing their best hockey of the season as they get set to embark on a three-game road trip that will take them to Weyburn, Estevan and Kindersley.
The game with the Klippers could be huge, as the Broncos currently sit only three points behind Kindersley for first place in the Kramer Division. To do it they'll need to take care of business away from the friendly confines of the Elgar Petersen Arena; six of the next seven games will come on the road, a critical stretch for a team still trying to find its way.
