Red-hot goalie can’t melt Ice

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This article was published 18/10/2021 (1797 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Isaac Poulter has faced a whole lot of rubber during three lean seasons of a franchise rebuild in Swift Current.

By the looks of Sunday night, Year 4 is shaping up to be similar to the other three for the 20-year-old Broncos goaltender.

But the local product stole the show Sunday night, keeping the East Division-leading Winnipeg Ice off the scoresheet until Mikey Milne’s goal, his fifth of the season, tied the game 1-1 with 34.6 seconds left in the second period.

The goal came on Winnipeg’s 37th shot of the game and triggered a late game offensive outburst for the hosts, who got a power-play winner from Connor McClennon, his sixth, 17 seconds into the third period and rumbled to a 3-1 victory before 1,621 spectators at Wayne Fleming Arena.

“I’m not too tired today — my team did a really good job keeping the pucks to the outside and so most of the time it was pretty easy for me,” said Poulter, who had 42 stops Sunday and another 42 in Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Brandon. “I think they just kept the pressure up and kept coming at us, which kind of like banged us up a bit at the end of the second and they finally capitalized on their chance.”

Winnipeg’s Skyler Bruce potted an insurance goal, his fifth, with 3:23 left in the game.

The win was a franchise record seventh straight to begin the season for the Ice and marked a sweep of three games in three nights. Winnipeg came into the game having outscored its opponents 50-10 in its first six games.

“(We’re) obviously sore — I think every guy can say that in the dressing room,” said Bruce. “But I think we’re still looking forward to playing after three games (in three days). You’re gonna be tired and want to go home but I think we’re ready to jump back into it and play some more hockey.”

Centre Mathew Ward gave the 2-4-1-0 Broncos a 1-0 lead on a power play midway through the opening period, ending a streak of 13 consecutive successful penalty-kills.

The Ice were trailing for the first time all season.

Swift Current’s Josh Davies appeared to make it 2-0 early in the middle frame but the goal was waved off when the on-ice officials determined he collided with Winnipeg goaltender Gage Alexander and carried the puck into the net. Alexander finished with 18 saves.

The loss didn’t tarnish Poulter’s effort.

“I’d say he was best player in the ice,” said Ice head coach James Patrick. “I was real happy with how we just stuck with it… determination, fortitude, game plan, whatever. We kept doing it and eventually one went in for us. I just felt in the first period a lot of our opportunities were one and done.”

McClennon had another big night for Winnipeg, raising his season point total to 10 in seven games and adding a pair of roughing minors. He now has 22 penalty minutes.

The 5-8, 160-pound right-winger has shown his pugnacious side, with two fighting majors to his credit already this season. He is close to establishing a career high for penalty minutes.

“I don’t want that from him,” said Patrick. “He’s too important scoring goals, you know. I think I need to have a talk with him about now.”

Next up for the Ice is a Wednesday matchup with the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. Game time is 7 p.m.

BLUE-LINES: Defenceman Karter Prosofsky returned to the Ice lineup after missing two games due to a league suspension. Prosofsky was handed a charging major and game misconduct in a Oct. 9 game against the Prince Albert Raiders… Winnipeg defencemen Anson McMaster, Brandt Young and Owen Boucher and forwards Sequoia Swan and Brayden Edwards did not dress… Swift Current went 1-for-7 on the power play. The Ice scored once in five chances… Three stars were: 1. Connor McClennon, Winnipeg; 2. Isaac Poulter, Swift Current; 3. Skyler Bruce, Winnipeg.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14