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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Improved Effort Leads to Overtime Heartbreak in Game 2

March 30, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


The Wheat Kings accomplished their goal of getting off to a better start and playing a better game overall, but game two of their first round series still went against them.

Roger McQueen scored twice, and Rylen Roersma and Dominik Petr each scored as well, but the Warriors took the 5-4 win. Carson Bjarnason stopped 34 of 39 in the loss.

"It was a better performance for sure, but obviously a bit heartbreaking to lose," said head coach and GM Marty Murray. "You look at the overtime goal, but we're up 4-2 with inside five minutes to go in the second period and give up two late, that's the night."

A strange and perhaps clever one got the Warriors out front early. Brayden Yager fired the puck out front from the left wing wall, and the puck struck a shinpad and bounced in.

Right as a Warrior power play expired, however, the Wheat Kings had their response. Roersma and Petr broke in 2-on-1, Roersma slid it through to Petr, and the rookie forward made no mistake with a neat finish high blocker on his first playoff goal.

Another slick passing play gave the Wheat Kings their first lead of the playoffs. Joby Baumuller spied Luke Shipley at the right point, Shipley fired it back door, and McQueen was waiting there to tuck it home.

The Warriors showed that they, too, could zip the puck around, however. On a shorthanded 3-on-2, Denton Mateychuk and Matthew Savoie worked it back and forth with Atley Calvert there to tap one home of his own.

The Wheat Kings had a shorthanded beauty of their own up their sleeve. Sent in 2-on-1 again, this time Roersma kept it for the shot and beat Unger cleanly to restore the lead.

McQueen pulled a rabbit out of his hat on the fourth goal, dancing into shooting position and burning Kalem Parker as he did. Then, from the slot, McQueen rifled home his second of the game and third of the playoffs.

But Moose Jaw's vaunted offense got them right back in it. First, Savoie snapped one home off the rush. Then, a broken play below the goal line left Pavel McKenzie alone in front and he snapped the tying goal in just 23 seconds later.

After a scoreless third period, the Wheat Kings started overtime with a flurry of point shots. But the Warriors broke their hearts on their very first shot of the extra frame, with Lynden Lakovic sniping from the high slot for the win.

Back to Brandon the Wheat Kings go for game three on Wednesday, April 3. Puck drop is 7:00.

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