If ever you needed proof that the team that plays the best doesn't always win, look no further than the Humboldt Broncos' 4-0 loss to the Battlefords North Stars on Jan. 3, their first game back after the Christmas break.
Through 40 minutes everything but the scoreboard said the Broncos were in control. They had taken twice as many shots as the Stars (30-15) and there were a number of excellent scoring chances coming from all over the ice. Despite all that, as the teams skated out of their locker rooms for the third period, the scoreboard above the Elgar Petersen Arena said it all: Battlefords 2, Humboldt 0.
The third period was something different altogether. The Stars turned the tables, outshooting Humboldt 15-7 and beating goalie Ryland Pashovitz twice more in an uncharacteristically weak performance for him. Still, both coaches and players weren't totally disheartened by their performance.
"The first two periods I actually thought we were all over them," said head coach Dean Brockman. "We just didn't capitalize on our chances."
"For the most part we outplayed them for the first two periods, that's for sure," echoed David Miazga. "If a couple bounces had gone our way it would have been a totally different story."
Brockman couldn't pinpoint exactly what the problem was in the third period, but did suggest the Stars looked to be in better shape than his guys. There had been three practices since the break, but there's no real way to tell where a team is at until they hit the ice for real. More practically, there was also the problem of overcoming a two and then three-goal deficit, something the offensively limited Broncos have trouble with.
"They had a couple lucky ones that normally don't beat our goalie and that gave them the momentum," Brockman said. "We're not a team that comes back because we don't score a ton."
Fortunately, the Broncos were given the opportunity to quickly move past the loss with a game in the Battlefords the very next night.
"It's good to have two in a row right off the bat to get things going again," Miazga said.
Unfortunately for him and his teammates, things didn't get going again as the Broncos dropped a 5-3 decision. The Stars scored twice within the first six minutes and the Broncos were never able to tie things up again. Unlike the game in Humboldt, the Broncos didn't come out and dominate early on.
"They got the jump on us," Brockman said. "We weren't ready and they got off to a 2-0 lead and it's tough for us to come back from that.
"We blew some assignments on our back checks. It's tough to win when you only score three goals in two games."
Cade Spencer got the start in net and gave up five goals on 31 shots, though Brockman thought there was only one goal that was a weak one.
The two losses have pushed the Broncos back into second place in the Kramer Division behind the Kindersley Klippers.
They will take the ice tonight at home against the Melville Millionaires, one of only two teams in the SJHL with more points than the Broncos (Yorkton is the other).
With the calendar turned to 2014 and less than 20 games left in the regular season, the intensity and importance of each game will only rise from here on out.
"Teams are fighting for playoff spots and positioning," Brockman said.
"The game changes after Christmas. Every mistake is magnified."
