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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Third Period Comeback Runs out of Time in Game Three

April 3, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


There's no quit in the Brandon Wheat Kings as they demonstrated yet again on Wednesday, April 3. Unfortunately, they didn't leave themselves enough time to come back against Moose Jaw.

A 22-shot third period was the best of the night for the Wheat Kings as they dropped game three and trail 3-0 in the series. Matteo Michels, Roger McQueen, Bretty Hyland and Jayden Wiens scored in the 6-4 loss.

"The first and second periods were disappointing," said head coach and GM Marty Murray. "We didn't have a lot of jam. When you have three or four passengers against this team, it's too many, and we had way too many in the first and second."

A good bounce off a shot through traffic got the Wheat Kings on the board early. McQueen fired one through a maze of shinpads and created a chance for Michels at the side of the net. Michels banged away and eventually forced it over the line.

The Warriors offensive roll began soon after. First, it was Owen Berge tipping home a point shot by Denton Mateychuk to square the score. Then, off a Wheat King turnover, Brayden Yager lifted home a sweet backhander to make it 2-1.

With their first power play goal of the series, the Warriors pulled ahead 3-1. It took just six seconds as the worked the puck to Matthew Savoie who immediately chopped home his third goal in three games in this series.

Savoie was at it again in the second, knocking down a stretch pass and busting in two-on-one. He kept for the shot and beat Bjarnason low to make it 4-1.

Early in the third, the Wheat Kings got some momentum back with McQueen redirecting a point shot by Charlie Elick to make it 4-2. But a truly bizarre Warriors goal, flung at the net from an awkward angle by Connor Schmidt, gave them a 5-2 lead. A 5-on-3 goal by Denton Mateychuk wrestled the momentum out of the Wheat Kings' hands again.

This time the Wheat Kings power play gave them a needed shot in the arm. Hyland one-timed home a rocket of a shot to get them back within three.

Still the Wheat Kings refused to quit. A desperate drive to the net freed up a rebound and after Quinn Mantei and Rylen Roersma had shots at it Wiens poked it home from his usual spot in front of the net to make it 6-4.

A goalie pull could not get the Wheat Kings any closer, however. They fell by a 6-4 count, and will have to save their season tomorrow night on home ice. Puck drop is 7:00.

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