The Swift Current Broncos were 97 seconds away from executing the sports version of the “trap,” only to have the Saskatoon Blades escape with a 4-3 shootout triumph Wednesday night before 3,246 fans at SaskTel Centre.

The sports version of the “trap” involves a team with an inferior record playing a team with a far superior mark, lulling the superior team into thinking a win will be easy, only to surprise the superior team with a better effort and a victory. On Wednesday, the Broncos took a long winless streak and a last place record in, both, the Central Division and the Eastern Conference into Saskatoon against a Bridge City Bunch squad that, earlier in the day, had been boosted into the C-H-L Top 10 rankings in the eighth spot. However, when the Blue and Gold took a time-out with 2:35 remaining in the third period, they were trailing Swift Current 3-2. The Blades were able to tie the score with 1:37 remaining when Brandon Lisowsky deflected Aidan De La Gorgendiere’s point shot past Isaac Poulter to force overtime. When five minutes of three-on-three hockey didn’t decide the outcome, Saskatoon winger Brendan Lee scored the lone goal of the penalty shot shootout to give the 9-2-1 Bridge City Bunch the extra point in the standings, sending 2-7-3 Speedy Creek to their 10th straight setback (0-7-3). The Broncos haven’t won in over a month, a 3-2 triumph on October 2 in Medicine Hat. Interim head coach Devan Praught is still looking for his first W-H-L coaching victory since taking over from Dean Brockman on October 14, now 0-4-3 in that time. Josh Paulhus and Egor Sidorov also scored for the Blue and Gold. Sidorov’s goal came on the power play, the 10th straight game in which the Blades have tallied on the man advantage. Saskatoon product Cole Nagy scored twice for Swift Current, including once on the power play, ending a run of 27 successful Saskatoon penalty kills. Josh Davies also connected for the Broncos, who were out-shot 32-23. Next action for the Bridge City Bunch is a weekend home-and-home series with the arch-rival Raiders…a Friday visit to Prince Albert before P-A comes to SaskTel Centre on Saturday. Game time both nights is 7 o’clock with the broadcast on CJWW beginning at 6:30 both evenings. Following are Les Lazaruk’s post-game show conversations with head coach Brennan Sonne as well as Lee and Paulhus, plus the game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..

Swift Current Broncos 3 at Saskatoon Blades 4 (SO) – Status: Final SO
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK

Swift Current 1 2 0 0 – 3
Saskatoon 2 0 1 0 – 4

1st Period-1, Swift Current, Davies 4   3:23. 2, Saskatoon, Paulhus 2 (Wiens, Rhinehart), 6:33. 3, Saskatoon, Sidorov 6 (Robins, De La Gorgendiere), 14:28 (PP). Penalties-Davies Sc (kneeing), 14:06; Nagy Sc (hooking), 16:48.

2nd Period-4, Swift Current, Nagy 2 (McGinley), 14:05. 5, Swift Current, Nagy 3 (Ward, Bettahar), 15:26 (PP). Penalties-Rhinehart Sas (holding), 5:27; De La Gorgendiere Sas (interference), 14:42; Robins Sas (high sticking), 15:26.

3rd Period-6, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 7 (De La Gorgendiere, Crnkovic), 18:23. Penalties-Birnie Sc (hooking), 14:38.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-De La Gorgendiere Sas (tripping), 4:02.

Shootout – Swift Current 0 (Gould NG, Ward NG, Nagy NG), Saskatoon 1 (Crnkovic NG, Robins NG, Lee G).
Shots on Goal-Swift Current 8-6-8-1-0-23. Saskatoon 11-9-10-2-1-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 1 / 4; Saskatoon 1 / 3.
Goalies-Swift Current, Poulter 2-4-1-1 (32 shots-29 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 7-2-1-0 (23 shots-20 saves).
A-3,246
Referees-Brayden Arcand, Taylor Burzminski (83).
Linesmen-Levi Schutz (110), Ty Skene.