The Humboldt Broncos are back in it.
After losing both games in Nipawin, the Broncos returned home and picked up a 2-1 win over the Hawks in game three of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League semi-final action from Humboldt.
The Broncos’ April 3 win cuts their series deficit against the Hawks to 2-1, and snapped a streak of 14 straight losses to the Hawks.
Logan Boulet scored the game winner at 15:18 of period two and Conner Lukan added the other for the Broncos, while Jacob Wassermann turned aside 29 shots for this first career playoff win on home ice, in his first start.
Christian Bosa responded with the lone goal for the visitors, while Declan Hobbs allowed two goals on 34 shots for just his second loss of the playoffs.
After back-to-back sluggish starts in Nipawin, the Broncos came out flying at home and put the visitors on the back foot early.
Despite not finding the back of the net the Broncos dominated the first period, leading the shots 10-1, 16:00 into the period.
By the time the first period drew to a close, neither team found the back of the net and the Broncos led on the shot clock 13-5.
After a poor start, the Hawks found their legs in the early part of the second, and they quickly turned their eight shot deficit into a four-shot lead.
Christian Bosa got the Hawks on the board at 6:59 of the middle session, redirecting a Daven Smith point shot by Wassermann for his first career SJHL playoff goal, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
That goal seemed to have a negative effect on the visiting side, as they began to lose their composure, taking a myriad of dumb penalties, which resulted in the Broncos having a two-minute 5-on-3.
Lukan quickly capitalized on the power play, pulling the Broncos back into a tie with the Hawks, just 1:05 into the power play.
With the Broncos looking to take their first lead it was their turn to lose focus, as Jaxon Joseph was slapped with a four-minute double minor for spearing, bringing the Broncos’ power play to an end.
Moments later Brayden Camrud was charged with tripping, and just like that the Broncos found themselves staring at their own two-minute 3-on-5 situation.
That kill served as a defining moment in the contest, as the Broncos managed to kill off the penalties, and returned to even strength tied at one.
The parade to the penalty box continued in the middle stanza as Thomas Lenchyshyn was sent to the sin bin at 15:03 for checking to the head.
Much like on their last power play, the Broncos wasted little time making the Hawks pay as Boulet slid into the slot and fired a shot by Hobbs for his first career SJHL playoff goal.
Boulet picked a perfect time to notch his first playoff goal, and the third year Bronco went scoreless in his first 11 playoff games.
The goal was just the ninth of Boulet’s season, and was his first in 14 games, dating back to Dec. 9, 2017, when Boulet scored against Flin Flon.
The Broncos clung to the lead heading into the third.
Despite holding the lead, the Broncos were unsatisfied, and refused to sit back and let the Hawks come at them as they outshot Nipawin 11-7 in the final period and preserved the 2-1 win.
Special teams were once again strong for the green and gold as their power play finished the evening 2-for-4, while their penalty kill was a perfect 3-for-3.
The Broncos will look to pull into a tie with the Hawks, with game four coming in Humboldt on April 4.
