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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings - Tigers Series Continues Tonight

March 30, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Medicine Hat, Alberta - The Brandon Wheat Kings may have won back to back games to even up the series but in order to win their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with the Tigers, they know that they must steal a game in Medicine Hat.

Their first chance to do just that comes tonight when the two teams take to the ice for game five of what has been an entertaining best of seven series.

The Wheat Kings, who won both regular season games in Medicine Hat before losing the first two games of this series, will be hoping to carry the momentum that they built up during this past week's games in Dauphin.

"It was a critical pair of games (in Dauphin)," says Brandon head coach David Anning. "They held serve on home ice and we had to do the same. The guys seemed focused and getting off to a good start will be important."

During the first four games, the Tigers have opened the scoring in three of them, including both games played last weekend in Medicine Hat when the home team jumped out to quick 3-0 leads.

"I think we've just got to keep rolling with what we've done these last two games," says goalkeeper Dylan Myskiw, who won both games after veteran Logan Thompson was sidelined in game two with a lower body injury. "They're a quick team...they're hard working and they don't give up easily."

Medicine Hat coach and general manager Shaun Clouston says despite losing both games in Dauphin, he's confident that they'll bounce back in front of what he expects will be a big, noisy crowd at home.

"I give them credit...they're a good hockey team," Clouston told the Medicine Hat News following game four. "We weren't where we needed to be for probably ten minutes but we were much better in the second and third...our intensity was much better."

Tigers' Mark Rassell, who has scored five goals and ten points in the series, says that Medicine Hat is confident heading into Friday night.

"If we stick to what made us successful all year, and early in this series, coming back home for Game 5 I like our odds," he told reporters.

A key to the series so far has been the play of the special teams.

While Medicine Hat's powerplay dominated the first two games by scoring five times on eleven chances, the Wheat Kings' penalty killing was excellent in Dauphin, killing off all but one of eight Tiger powerplays.

Right-winger Baron Thompson is eligible to return to the Brandon lineup tonight after serving a three-game WHL suspension for a first period kneeing penalty in game one.

Following tonight's game, the Wheat Kings will return to Dauphin for game six Easter Sunday at 7pm. Should a seventh and deciding game be necessary in the series, it will be played Tuesday night in Alberta.

Tickets to Sunday's game at Credit Union Place in Dauphin are on sale Good Friday and up until 3pm Saturday afternoon at the Keystone Centre box office. Fans can also order online at keystonecentre.com or by calling (204) 726-3555.

However, after 3pm Saturday, fans will need to wait until 1pm Sunday afternoon when tickets will go on sale to the general public at the arena box office in Dauphin. Fans can also purchase tickets by calling (204) 726-3546.

This week's playoff games in Dauphin are a presentation of Mazergroup, Aspen Insurance, Twin Motors and Catalyst Credit Union.

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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.

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