Another very impressive comeback fell short for the Swift Current Broncos.

Down 4-1 going into the third period the Broncos battled back as they have several times this season and forced overtime. Brennan Menell then scored the winner to give Lethbridge a 5-4 victory.

“I didn't like anything about our game in the first two periods,” said Broncos assistant coach Jamie Heward. “I just thought we were lazy at times, didn't pay attention to detail and were kind of going through the motions and it ended up biting us. A tale of two different hockey teams... into a team that worked hard, really found some energy and came out and really played a good (third) period.”

In the ten games the Broncos have trailed entering the third period they've managed to come from behind and earn at least a point six times.

“We just don't quit,” said Broncos defenceman Max Lajoie. “It's really nice to have that. Guys keep their heads up and we just stick to the system in the third period and it works.”

The coaching staff doesn't feel there's any magic bullet for why they are able to battle back, but they are looking for more consistency throughout a game.

“Desperation and maybe some harsh words from the coaching staff that motivates?” Heward said. “Honestly there's a lot that goes into it. We're still in a situation where we've got a lot of learning to do but our stress now is details. We've got a fast enough and skilled enough team that if you're paying attention to all the things we put on the board we have a chance to win every night. We pay attention to detail we're a very good hockey team.”

The Broncos typically don't give up more than three goals a game. That ballooned to six, eight and five in their last three games against very good opponents. They attribute that to not following through on the details of the game.

“If you're out of position you're going to get scored on,” Heward said. “Just little things, little battles and little errors we're making in the defensive zone that are costing us points. You can't get away with mistakes against the Regina Pats, Moose Jaw, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat... they're good hockey teams so you've got to play sound hockey. Tonight was a good learning curve for our guys to know when they did in the third period we were successful. It's a never ending battle in junior hockey to get these kids to play a certain way.”

For Lajoie it's about keeping it simple.

“It's just being harder in the defensive zone, in front of the net and stuff like that,” Lajoie said. “We've just got to be sure to make the easy plays and not get too complicated in the d-zone.”

Aleksi Heponiemi and Ryan Graham each had a goal and an assist for the Broncos, while Lajoie added two assists.

Colby Sissons and Lane Pederson also scored for Swift Current.

Jordy Bellerive had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. They are 10-0-1-0 in their last 11 games.

Taz Burman made 26 saves in a losing cause, while the Broncos fired 38 shots at Ryan Gilchrist.

The loss dropped Swift Current to 15-10-3-4 on the season. They're 3rd in the WHL East Division and 5th in the Eastern Conference.

The Broncos visit Kootenay on Wednesday before playing a home-and-home with Prince Albert to wrap up their schedule before the holiday break.