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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings 5-2 Winners in Game 5

March 31, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Medicine Hat, Alberta - The Brandon Wheat Kings have moved to within one victory of clinching a berth into the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

The Wheat Kings rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring five unanswered goals including three in the third period Friday night to beat the Central Division Champion Medicine Hat Tigers 5-2 in game five of their opening round playoff series.

The win gives Brandon a 3-2 lead in the best of seven series, with game six scheduled for Easter Sunday at 7pm at Credit Union Place in Dauphin.

Ryan Chyzowski scored twice for the Tigers, with his second in the opening minute of the second period giving Medicine Hat a 2-0 advantage.

However, Ty Lewis on the powerplay and Luke Burzan's redirection of a Schael Higson blast from the point tied the score before the end of the second as the Wheat Kings rebounded from a tough start by outshooting the Tigers 15-6 in the middle frame.

"I thought in the final sixteen minutes of the second period we did a real good job and controlled the play and played in the offensive zone a lot,"coach David Anning told CKLQ's Branden Crowe following the game. "We had guys going to the hard areas and going to the net, that generated a lot of scoring chances for us."

In the third, Brandon came out flying and scored two goals in the first two minutes and never looked back.

After Connor Gutenberg finished off a pretty 2 on 1 pass from Evan Weinger at the 19 second mark, Linden McCorrister's powerplay goal ?" with David Quenneville in the penalty box - gave the Wheat Kings a two goal cushion.

Special teams were a key in this one as Brandon went 2 for 5 with the man advantage while the Tigers, who scored five powerplay goals in back to back wins last weekend, came up empty in their only opportunity of the night.

Rounding out the scoring for the Wheat Kings was veteran Stelio Mattheos, who buried his second goal of the playoffs into an empty net.

In making his third straight start in goal, Winnipeg's Dylan Myskiw turned aside 24 shots while Jordan Hollett stopped 26 in a losing cause for the Tigers.

The series now shifts back to Dauphin for an Easter Sunday date. Should a seventh and deciding game be necessary it will be played back in Alberta on Tuesday night.

Brandon coach David Anning expects a tough test on Sunday.

"The fourth game is the hardest one to win and you're trying to put your opponent out," says Anning. "We expect their best on Sunday and we will need a big effort."

Lewis, a Colorado Avalanche prospect, finished the game with a goal and four points.

Tickets to game six are on sale until 3pm Saturday at both the Keystone Centre box office and online at keystonecentre.com. Fans can also call (204) 726-3555 on Saturday and (204) 726-3546 on Sunday afternoon.

Ticket sales will then shift to the arena box office in Dauphin at 1pm Sunday.

The Wheat Kings are playing their first round playoff home games at Credit Union Place due to the fact the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is currently occupying Brandon's Keystone Centre.

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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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