The Humboldt Broncos gave away an excellent chance to put a stranglehold on their series.
The Broncos, fresh off a 7-2 drubbing of the Melfort Mustangs in game one, gave away a chance to go home up two games to none, losing 6-3 to the Mustangs in game two of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League series, also known as the Bourgault Cup.
Despite picking up the loss, the Broncos had their chances to come back as they had a pair of third period power plays with a chance to tie the game, but could not find the back of the net.
Despite the missed opportunities, the Broncos鈥� power play was still sharp converting on 3-of-8 opportunities.
The Mustangs meanwhile, finally broke through on the power play, scoring twice in two chances to extend their lead to 5-2 in the third period after going 0-for-9 to start the series.
Aside from those two goals, the Broncos penalty kill was solid once again killing off 7-of-9 power plays they faced.
Missed opportunities and tough bounces proves costly for the Broncos.
鈥淲e had good looks, we had what we wanted and Plotnik made the save he needed to make鈥� We hit a couple crossbars, a couple posts and that鈥檚 kind of the way she goes鈥� A lot of positives for us but at the end of the day it鈥檚 about winning games here and now in the playoffs.鈥�
One night after combining for ten points, the line of Logan Schatz, Nick Shumlanski, and former Mustang Jaxon Joseph was dangerous once again, as Joseph scored twice, and Schatz and Shumlanski each recorded two assists.
Brayden Camrud added the other Broncos goal, his second in two games.
After Tristen Elder burned his former team with a pair of Mustangs goals the night prior, it was Rock Ruschkowski鈥檚 turn to burn his former team, scoring twice to lead the Mustangs.
Drew Warkentine, Justin Ball, and Carson Albrecht each finished with a goal and an assist, and Kayle Tosh chipped in with two assists.
Zach Anderson, into an empty net, rounded out the scoring for the Mustangs.
After scoring first in game one, the Mustangs turned the trick again in game two as Ruschkowski scored his first of two first period markers to give the Mustangs an early lead.
This time the Mustangs made sure not to allow the Broncos to climb back in it early as Ruschkowski scored his second of the period to put the Mustangs in front 2-0 after one.
Camrud got the Broncos back to within one just 3:45 into period two, scoring his second in as many games on the power play.
The Mustangs quickly extended their lead back to two as Warkentine snuck in behind the Broncos defense and beat starter Jacob Wassermann, giving the Mustangs a 3-1 lead just 59 seconds after the Broncos cut the deficit to one.
In a similar play to Warkentine鈥檚 goal, Joseph broke in behind the Mustangs defense, and beat Evan Plotnik to cut the Mustangs鈥� lead back to one after two periods.
Trailing by one in the third, the Broncos had a pair of early power plays to pull themselves into a tie with the Mustangs but could not find the back of the net.
Those missed opportunities would come back to bite the Broncos as Ball and Albrecht scored power play goals 1:55 apart giving the Mustangs a 5-2 lead.
Joseph cut the Broncos鈥� deficit to two with his fourth goal of the playoffs, and fourth goal in two games.
Anderson iced the game with an empty netter in the final minute as the Mustangs won 6-3.
One night after picking up his first career SJHL playoff win, Wassermann suffered his first career SJHL playoff loss after allowing five goals on 33 shots as the Broncos outshot the Mustangs 36-34.
The series now shifts back to Humboldt tied at one.
Haugan admits it is nice to be coming home tied but says selfishly he would have liked to have won game two after taking game one.
鈥淭he thing for us that we鈥檙e really preaching is persistence. We have to have it. We have to be continually hungry and we鈥檝e got to come out with the best effort of our season (March 20),鈥� noted Haugan.
鈥淲e have home ice advantage but that means now that we have to take advantage of that and take care of business in our home rink or else we lose it again and the effort that we put forth in game one to get the first game there is all for naught.鈥�
The Broncos will have a chance to regain their series lead with game three in Humboldt on March 20.
Game four will be back in Humboldt on March 21.
The keys for the Broncos to regaining their one game lead comes down to starting better and not falling behind early, and also playing with their emotions in check, says Haugan.
鈥淚 felt that the way the game was officiated on Saturday night it really somewhat distracted us with 17 penalties鈥� over half the game is played with specialty teams but we have to do a better job of adjusting and adapting to the climate and not letting the circumstances dictate us.鈥�
