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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Forced to Settle for Single Point Despite Late Lead

March 6, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Closing games out has been a conversation point for the Wheat Kings in recent days, and unfortunately it will be a topic of conversation again after a loss to the Calgary Hitmen.

Carson Bjarnason stopped 29 of 32 shots and Jayden Wiens and Nolan Flamand both scored, but an Oliver Tulk hat trick cost the Wheat Kings the extra point as they fell 3-2. The Wheat Kings had a lead with under a minute to go, but gave up the tying goal with the net empty.

"I didn't like the first period at all, but I thought we pushed a little harder in the second and third," said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. "We've got to close the game out. We're up 2-1 on the road, a huge, huge game, we've got to close the game out."

After stopping an early Hitmen power play, the Wheat Kings surrendered a goal to the Hitmen's top sniper at even strength. Tulk found some space in the slot, spun, and fired a shot to the top corner for the lead.

The second period positively flew by, with almost half the period passing without a whistle. When the whistle finally came, the Wheat Kings couldn't have been happier to see it as it came on Wiens's 21st of the season. Parked in front of the net as he so often is, Wiens knocked home the rebound of a Quinn Mantei shot with just .4 seconds to go in the second period.

On their second power play of the game, the Wheat Kings pulled ahead for the first time. Caleb Hadland hit the post on a shot from the slot, but the rebound sat conveniently for Flamand, who tapped it home for the 2-1 lead.

Though the Wheat Kings pressed, they couldn't build on their lead and it didn't survive the third period. On a late power play, with the net empty, the Hitmen fed Tulk again, and he one-timed home the equalizer.

Tulk completed the comeback in overtime on the very first shift. After a missed two-on-one at one end, the Hitmen made good on theirs at the other, with Tulk stuffing home the hat trick goal.

The loss is the fifth in a row for the Wheat Kings, who remain on the road to face the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday night.

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