Ryley Lindgren scored in overtime as the Swift Current Broncos stunned the rested Regina Pats in overtime to win the first game of their best of seven WHL second round series.

Sahvan Khaira forced the puck into the Regina zone and pushed up to Aleksi Heponiemo who cut towards the slot and set Lindgren up. The veteran forward ripped it top shelf for his sixth of the playoffs and a terrific start to the series.

“Sahvan made a great play,” Lindgren said. “Heppo's poise and patience is unbelievable obviously. It was one of the first times I got in the offensive zone in the overtime period we were playing a lot of defence and we were playing tight. I got the puck and I just wanted to get it on net. Good things happen I guess.”

Regina had been off for over a week after sweeping Calgary, while the Broncos had only two days off following their seven game battle with Moose Jaw.

Lane Pederson forced overtime with his third of the playoffs when Lindgren jumped on a puck behind the Regina net and set him up with 38.7 seconds to go in the third period.

Jordan Papirny was again outstanding for Swift Current making 53 saves to give his team an opportunity to win.

“Huge,” said Papirny. “Going into that third period we knew it might come down to that last minute. We locked it down in our own end. We stuck with it and came out in that last minute to get that big goal. In overtime I don't think we played the way we wanted to, but a great jump by (Sahvan Khaira) and a great finish by (Lindgren).”

The Broncos started a bit slow and tentative getting outshot 19-2 in the first period as the Pats skated to a 1-0 lead. Austin Wagner threw a puck towards the Broncos crease that bounced off a Swift Current skate to slide under Papirny.

“I think we just kind of sat back a little bit and wanted to see what they would bring in the first,” Papirny said. "That's not what you want to do in the playoffs. Fortunately I think the guys did a really good job keeping it to the outside for me. Not lots of quality chances.”

It was a more aggressive second period from the Broncos as they started to get some pucks and bodies to the net. Tyler Brown had his best period stopping all 14 shots for the Pats and keeping Regina up 1-0 heading towards the third period.

"We were fortunate not to be down a couple after the first period," said Broncos associate coach Ryan Smith who said the message was clear in the first intermission. "The message was to wake up. We weren't playing well and we needed to dig in. The other series was pretty emotional and I think maybe we were a little bit hungover from that series. We woke up in the second and stuck with it. It was good, winning the first one is always important."

Swift Current had their opportunities on the power play and couldn't solve the Regina penalty kill. They went 0 for 6 on the night, but also held Regina off the board on their lone man advantage of the night.

It took until the final minute of the game with Papirny pulled for the Broncos to solve Brown for the first time.

“That's been the tale of the tape the whole year,” Papirny said. “Ever since I've gotten here we find a way to stick around every game. We all believe in each other and we know some nights it is going to come down to the 59th minute. The character in this room is unbelievable.”

It's the second straight series the Broncos have opened with a victory on the road. They have now taken back home ice advantage with the win and have an opportunity in game two tomorrow night to take control of the series.

“I think with us we proved to ourselves we can play with this team,” Papirny noted. “The shots were a little in their favour, but we proved we can play with this team and we can get real quality scoring chances.”

You can hear game two live on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey on Friday night at 6:30pm. The series shifts to Swift Current on Monday and Tuesday.