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WHL Swift Current Broncos

Broncos, Pats Meet in Potential Playoff Preview on WHL on Access Action

March 16, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Swift Current Broncos News Release


Swift Current Broncos (47-17-4-2) at Regina Pats (39-25-5-1)

Friday, March 17 - Brandt Centre 7:00 p.m. (Mountain)

Channels: Access7 SD, Access 70 HD, WHL Live

After 768 games, the 2017-18 Western Hockey League regular season has come down to it's final weekend with plenty still to be decided.

All 16 spots in the 2018 WHL Playoffs have been finalized, but seven of the eight first round playoff match-ups are still up in the air, creating plenty of intrigue in the East Division.

For this weekend, the attention is focused on what happens in the home-and-home series between the Swift Current Broncos and Regina Pats, beginning Friday at the Brandt Centre.

The Broncos have guaranteed themselves home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs following a spectacular 100-point season that still has two games left. The Pats meanwhile are battling it out with the Brandon Wheat Kings for third place in the East Division. With those two clubs separated by three points in the standings and having two games each remaining in their regular season, a result that sees the Wheat Kings move up into third place is still possible, especially when considering the Broncos have had the Pats' number in the season series this year, winning all four games.

Politely countering that 0-4 season series record though are the Pats, who are winners of six straight games and getting hot at the right time heading into the playoffs while the Broncos are on a three-game slide themselves. It's hard to tell which side of the argument will gain the upper-hand overall, but even a single victory by the Pats this weekend will clinch third place, setting up the first round series with the Broncos and renewal of their Trans-Canada rivalry.

Max Paddock has been a valuable asset to the Pats since the calendars flipped over to 2018, posting a 12-2-1-1 record, 2.46 goals-against-average, and .914 save percentage in the absence of an injured Ryan Kubic. Those numbers are close to the best in the league, helping keep the Pats near the top of the heap heading into the playoffs. As one of eight Eastern Conference goaltenders to record at least 10 wins since January 1, 2018, he ranks highly in other statistics as well, with the best GAA and SV% figures among those eight goaltenders.

It's a testament to the Pats' improved play that'll also see them finish with the conference's third-best defence, next to only the Warriors and Broncos.

It likely goes without saying at this point in his WHL career, but Pats captain Sam Steel (Anaheim Ducks) will once again be a player to watch and one the Broncos will have to contain in order to succeed. With 47 points (18G-29A) in 26 games during the 2018 calendar year, he's upped his game to give the Pats a fighting chance in the playoffs. Factor in the contributions of players like Josh Mahura (Anaheim Ducks) - 39 points (11G-28A) in 31 games - Cameron Hebig (Edmonton Oilers) - 37 points (12G-25A) in 30 games, as well as other top scorers like Matt Bradley and Cale Fleury (Montreal Canadiens) and you've got a Mastercard Memorial Cup squad that's seemingly figured things out at the right time.

The Pats' penalty kill, which struggled at the beginning of the season, has rebounded nicely to shimmy its way up to 18th entering this weekend. Their overall penalty kill has improved, but the season series against the Broncos has been a bit of a sore spot for the Pats, with them sporting a 62.5 per cent figure on the penalty kill against the Broncos in four games this year. The good news for them is that the slate gets wiped clean in the playoffs and with their improved play continuing, they should find an answer for the Broncos' top-ranked power play throughout a seven-game series if afforded the opportunity.

One of the keys the Pats will want to look at is grabbing the lead after the second period. They're just one of five teams yet to suffer a regulation loss when leading after 40 minutes this season, joining other top-ranked clubs including the Moose Jaw Warriors, Everett Silvertips, Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants.

As the visitors in Friday's matchup, the Broncos can't move up or down in the standings, but they can add some history to their already impressive year. This season marks the first time since the 1999-00 WHL regular season that the Broncos have hit triple digits for points in a single season and just the fifth time in franchise history. If they manage to secure at least two points from their remaining two games, they'll accomplish the team's second-best regular season in franchise history, short of their 111-point campaign from the 1988-89 season.

The Broncos have also found continue offensive success since the turn of the calendars into 2018. Captain Glenn Gawdin (Calgary Flames) ranked in a three-way tie for second among WHL skaters for points since January 1, 2018 with 52 points (24G-28A) in 29 games, joining Kailer Yamamoto (Edmonton Oilers) and Matthew Phillips (Calgary Flames) just behind WHL leading scorer Jayden Halbgewachs (San Jose Sharks) from the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Not to be discounted is a 47-point (9G-38A) performance from Gawdin's teammate Aleksi Heponiemi (Florida Panthers), who will do everything he can to ensure the Broncos go on another solid run in the playoffs.

While the team itself has suffered three straight losses for the first time since late December 2017 into the New Year, they're still 5-4-0-1 in their last 10 games and they enter the final weekend of play with the league's best power play, going 10-for-40 in their last 10 contests as well. The history for the league's best power play and ending up as the champion hasn't really applied itself in recent years though, with the Kelowna Rockets' 2014-15 team the last league champion to hold down the league's best power play after the regular season.

Watch to see how all the action plays out during WHL on Access action tonight!

Swift Current Broncos

Record: 47-17-4-2

Head coach: Manny Viveiros

Leading scorers: C Glenn Gawdin (56-68-124); C Aleksi Heponiemi (28-90-118); ; C Tyler Steenbergen (46-54-100)

Leading goaltender: Stuart Skinner (55 GP, 29-21-3-1, 3.09 GAA, 0.904 SV%, 6 SO)

Power play: First - 30.0%

Penalty kill: Third - 79.6%

Injuries/Unavailable: F Glenn Gawdin (illness, day-to-day)

GAME DAY PREVIEW: Pats close out regular season home schedule against Swift Current. Details here: https://t.co/dSlvyskbfs#JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/HpBqL6kUv8

- x - Regina Pats (@WHLPats) March 16, 2018

Regina Pats

Record: 39-25-5-1

Head coach: John Paddock

Leading scorers: C Cameron Hebig (41-49-90); C Sam Steel (32-50-82); C Matt Bradley (37-39-76)

Leading goaltender: Max Paddock (32 GP, 18-7-1-1, 2.94 GAA, .902 SV%)

Power play: 8th - 24.1%

Penalty kill: 18th - 75.5%

Injuries/unavailable: G Ryan Kubic (lower body, day-to-day)

Season series

Sept. 27 - Swift Current 5 at Regina 3

Jan. 6 - Regina 2 Swift Current 4

Jan. 27 - Regina 1 Swift Current 3

Jan. 28 - Swift Current 4 Regina 1

Mar. 16 - Swift Current at Regina*

Mar. 17 - Regina at Swift Current

*WHL on Access broadcast

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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