After last week’s tough outcome, the Humboldt Broncos bounced back this week with their Jan. 26 win at home against the third place Melfort Mustangs.
After giving up an early goal and falling behind 1-0 within minutes of the start of each game last week, it was the Broncos’ turn to grab an early lead as Logan Boulet scored before the game was five minutes old.
The Broncos got a chance to extend their lead to two with under four minutes left in the period as they went to the power play. Their power play lasted six second before Trevor Posch was whistled for checking to the head. While four-on-four, the Mustangs scored twice and took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Sam Houston of the Mustangs scored with under eight minutes to go in the second period to extend the ‘Stangs’ lead to 3-1.
The Broncos would not go away as newly acquired Chris Van Os-Shaw scored on a beautiful deke 41 seconds later to cut the Broncos deficit back to a goal.
Van Os-Shaw was not done there as he scored a power play goal two and a half minutes later to send the teams to the dressing room tied at 3.
The Broncos came out flying in the third period and were rewarded early after Michael Korol scored on a perfect shot to give the Broncos a 4-3 lead.
Laramie Kostelansky added another Broncos goal when he beat Mustangs goalie Evan Plotnik five-hole, which chased Plotnik from the goal and gave the Broncos a 5-3 lead. Van Os-Shaw added an empty net goal to complete the hat trick as the Broncos skated away with a 6-3 win.
Broncos Head Coach Darcy Haugan was really pleased with his teams’ response after a couple tough losses last weekend.
The Broncos then went out on the road for a huge game against the Yorkton Terriers on Jan. 30. They are chasing in the standings.
The Broncos got off to a slow start as Cole Keenleyside scored early in the first period to give the Terriers an early 1-0 lead. Michael Korol scored in his second straight game to tie the game at 1 after the first period.
Trevor Posch gave the Broncos their first lead less than one minute into the second period. However, the lead was short lived as McKenzie Welke scored his first of two goals three minutes later to tie the game back up at 2.
Rock Ruschkowski and Trevor Posch added second period goals around an LJ Naccarto goal to give the Broncos a 4-3 lead.
Just as the Broncos thought they were heading to the intermission with the lead, Jordan Ross tied the game with 27 seconds left in the period.
The Terriers and Broncos started the third period tied 4-4 with two huge points on the line. The Terriers ran away with the game in the third period as they scored four times, including three in 1:45 to beat the Broncos 8-4.
Despite the loss Haugan was pleased with his team effort in the game.
“We held them to shots from the outside for the most part and it just didn’t happen for us tonight but we played a pretty solid road game for the most part,” he said.
Haugan said the giving up the late goal in the second was costly and attributed the three late goals in succession to opening up the game offensively to try and score the equalizer.
The loss moved the Broncos five points behind the Terriers for the final playoff spot.
“It’s pretty tough on us all here tonight,” he said.
Next Week
The Broncos head north for a pair of games against Flin Flon on Feb. 5 and against La Ronge on Feb. 6.
Flin Flon is the hottest team in the league, losing just five times since the Broncos beat them on Nov. 13.
Haugan expects a tough match up with both teams.
“We have to have a good week here at practice, we’ve got to get ready for those two tough teams and try to find a way to win on the road our playoff lives depend on it,” he said.
