Cameron Hebig scored twice and Ryan Kubic made 32 saves leading Regina to a 2-1 win over Swift Current in Game 2 of their first round series.

The Pats battled hard to get the split every road team desires at the start of a best-of-seven series.

"They came out a little bit stronger than yesterday," said Broncos defenceman Colby Sissons. "We matched it for the most part, but our intensity wasn't there for the whole 60. A few lapses and a few too many penalties."



Swift Current had their chances in a game where both teams had to earn every inch they got. The usually shap Broncos power play went 0 for 7 including a first period 5 on 3 and a late man advantage with their goaltender pulled.

"We need to score," said Broncos Associate Coach Ryan Smith. "We had some good looks. Not just one or two players but a number of guys. It's easier said than done. It's not easy to score. If everybody could do it everybody would do it. We have to find the back of the net, we have to get to the net. That's the biggest difference right now. We're clutching our stick a little bit. They played well. They deserved the win."



Swift Current scored twice on the power play in Game 1 and not being able to replicate that success tonight was perhaps the biggest difference maker in the result.

"I think we were still moving the puck well," Sissons said. "We were getting looks. Kubic made some saves. We have to do a better job obviously. A few tweaks here and there, but we're getting our chances."

Kaden Elder scored Swift Current's lone goal midway through the third period on a very nice pass by Max Patterson from behind the net. Elder roofed it over Kubic's glove and gave the Broncos some late life.

That's as close as Swift Current could get in a game where both teams really limited the high quality scoring chances against them.

"It was close between two teams," Smith said. "They are a very good squad. We didn't expect it to be a sweep. You are naive to think it's going to be four straight.. you're not going to see a lot of goals, you're not going to see a lot of odd man rushes and when you get your chance to score you have to bury. Tonight they did and we didn't."

Hebig opened the scoring for Regina in the first period on a quick transition from the neutral zone as the drove the net and converted a pass from Sam Steel.

The Pats had a goal disallowed late in the second period when Josh Mahura beat Stuart Skinner on a play the referees ruled was goaltender interference.

Skinner was strong again for Swift Current stopping 30 of the 32 Regina shots.

The Pats go some insurance in the third period on a sequence that went really wrong for the Broncos. Swift Current negated their own power play on a Glenn Gawdin penalty before Jacson Alexander was nabbed for high sticking and the Pats were able to convert a 5 on 3 for the eventual game winner.

Swift Current was without veteran defenceman Artyom Minulin due to an injury he sustained in Game 1. That resulted in their top four defenceman logging significant ice time as they played every second shift for a significant portion of the game.

"Minny is a huge part of our team and guys have to step up," Sissons said. "It's playoffs it was bound to happen. It sucks it happened in the first period of the first game, but guys are going to have to step up and take a heavier load."

Regina was again missing Jesse Gabrielle and goaltender Max Paddock.

The two teams meet again in Regina for Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Wednesday. We will have both games live on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.

Game 5 will be back in Swift Current on Friday night.

Meanwhile, the other East Division series is also tied after the first weekend of the playoffs as Moose Jaw beat Prince Albert 3-2 in overtime. The Raiders also earned a split on the road and will host Game 3 of that series on Tuesday.