For the second time in the W-H-L’s East Division “Dubble,” the Saskatoon Blades had a lengthy winning streak ended by a team on a long losing skid, with a less than .500 record.

Rookie goaltender Reid Dyck didn’t allow a goal on a direct shot on his net, blocking 33 of 35 during regulation time and overtime…then denied all three Bridge City Bunch attempts in a shootout…as the Swift Current Broncos (4-14-1) defeated the Blue and Gold (14-2-3) 3-2 Saturday night. Another Speedy Creek rookie, centre Matthew Ward, scored the lone goal of the penalty shot contest in the second attempt of the third round…a walk-off winner. It ended Swift Current’s seven-game losing skid, the Blades’ five-game winning run and Saskatoon’s streak of nine straight head-to-head victories over the Broncos…dating back to January 26, 2019. Back on April 2, Moose Jaw blanked the Bridge City Bunch 4-0, putting the brakes to the Warriors’ six-game winless skid and ending the Blue and Gold’s winning streak at seven games.

The lone bit of good news for the Blades was that the point in the standings from losing beyond regulation time put them back in first place in the East Division by that single point over Brandon, who dumped Moose Jaw 4-1 earlier Saturday.

Saskatoon never trailed in the game, scoring the opening goal just 43 seconds into the contest. Sophomore defenceman Charlie Wright’s first career W-H-L goal, in his 59th game, came when his shot glanced off two Speedy Creek defender’s sticks and past Dyck. Bridge City Bunch captain Chase Wouters gave his squad a 2-1 lead late in the second period when the rebound of his shot glanced off Broncos’ defenceman Sam McGinley past a startled Dyck. The Blue and Gold will try to start a new winning streak Tuesday against the Regina Pats at 6 o’clock. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…..

Swift Current Broncos 3 (SO) at Saskatoon Blades 2 – Status: Final SO
Saturday, April 17, 2021 – Brandt Centre – Regina, SK

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

1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Wright 1 (Rhinehart, Crnkovic), 0:43. Penalties-Shugrue Sas (cross checking), 2:02; Bulych Sc (high sticking), 4:47; Bulych Sc (cross checking), 16:02.

2nd Period-2, Swift Current, Pickering 2 (Ward), 4:59. 3, Saskatoon, Wouters 8 (Crnkovic, Wright), 19:48. Penalties-Plaschewsky Sas (tripping), 6:44; Daley Sas (hooking), 11:48.

3rd Period-4, Swift Current, Lewis 2 (Williams, Pickering), 2:03. Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Swift Current 1 (Davies NG, Farren NG, Ward G), Saskatoon 0 (Crnkovic NG, Wouters NG, Stevenson NG).
Shots on Goal-Swift Current 10-14-12-1-1-38. Saskatoon 17-10-6-2-0-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 0 / 2; Saskatoon 0 / 2.
Goalies-Swift Current, Dyck 2-4-0-0 (35 shots-33 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 10-1-1-1 (37 shots-35 saves).
A-0
Referees-Jason Bourdon (20), Aydon Brown.
Linesmen-Lucas Nagel (170), Tanner McGregor (55).