Sports stats



WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Pollock's Goal Sinks Wheat Kings

March 25, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. - The Edmonton Oil Kings have grabbed a 2-0 lead in their best of seven Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Brett Pollock's breakaway goal at 9:32 mark of the third period snapped a 1-1 tie and lifted Edmonton to its second win in as many nights at Westman Communications Group Place.

The Wheat Kings certainly deserved a better fate in this one - outshooting, out chancing and at times outworking their Alberta visitors. However, an inefficient powerplay that went 0 for 4, lack of touch around the net and some stellar netminding from Edmonton's Payton Lee proved to be too much for Brandon to overcome.

Lee finished the night with 43 saves, including fourteen in the third when the Wheat Kings had several glorious chances to take the lead or get back on even terms after Edmonton had scored the go ahead goal.

In a game that featured three goals, special teams proved critical. Edmonton's first goal by Brandon Baddock came on the powerplay while Brandon's John Quenneville opened the scoring with a shorthanded tally midway through the first.

As for the game winner in the third, Brandon had a great chance to regain the lead when defenceman Ben Carroll, feeling pressure, was handed a delay of game penalty when helifted a clearing attempt up over the glass and out of play. While the Wheat Kings did storm the net, looking for the go ahead goal - a giveaway inside the line as Carroll left the box led to Pollock's breakaway and what turned out to be the game winning goal.

With Rexall Place playing host to the next three games, the Wheat Kings will need to climb back in the series by finding a way to win on the road - something that they did regularly throughout the 2015-16 regular season. In fact, Brandon led all Eastern Conference teams this season with an impressive 23-20-3-0 record away from home.

Brandon is coming off its second straight Eastern Conference regular season pennant, having finished the year with a record of 48-18-4-2. The Wheat Kings also led the league in scoring and they will need to regain that touch in a hurry if they hope to rally and win this opening round playoff series.

Games three, four and five (if necessary) will be played Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday in Edmonton.

Wheat Kings' Playoff hockey is a presentation of Sunrise Credit Union, Precision Toyota, Montana's Barbecue and Bar and The Brandon Sun.

Check out the Brandon Wheat Kings Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Brandon Wheat Kings Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central