Wheat Kings Lose in Overtime against Tigers

February 28, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release

The Brandon Wheat Kings closed out a five-game road trip with a 4-3 overtime loss in Medicine Hat on Saturday night.

Chad Butcher had two goals and an assist for the Tigers, including the game-winning goal 23 seconds into extra time.

Ivan Provorov, Tyler Coulter and Mitch Wheaton scored the goals for Brandon, with Wheaton's goal his first as a Wheat Kings and first since February 28, 2014.

The teams combined for 104 shots on net, meaning the game was a fairly wide open one.

"Not the game we wanted at all, and certainly not the outcome we wanted," said Brandon GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon on CKLQ's post-game show, "There was a game in Lethbridge this week that was 9-8 on Wednesday night, this game was probably that game with good goaltending."

Zach Fischer and Brian Williams scored in the opening period for Medicine Hat, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Butcher made it 3-0 midway through the second period, with Provorov getting Brandon on the board with a power-play goal with 4½ minutes left in the middle frame.

Coulter scored Brandon's second power-play goal of the night 6:52 into the third period, and then Wheaton got the game-tying goal with just over five minutes left in regulation.

Jordan Papirny made 47 saves in the Brandon net while Nick Schneider stopped 50 shots for Medicine Hat.

The overtime loss leaves Brandon tied with Lethbridge for first-place in the Eastern Conference, though the Hurricanes do hold the first tiebreaker with two more wins than the Wheat Kings (41-to-39).

"We were down 3-0 and found a way to get back tied 3-3, those things are all positive," said McCrimmon, "It undoes what we accomplished (Friday) night when we don't get the win tonight, that's what the disappointing part is for me. We weren't good enough early in the game, and that's on us."

Brandon's next action is Raincheck Night on Wednesday night, when they host the Saskatoon Blades (7:00 p.m., Westman Communications Group Place).

Western Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2016

• Four Game Road Trip Starts with 3-2 Loss to Silvertips - Tri-City Americans
• Blades Streak Snapped at Five - Saskatoon Blades
• Game Day Report: Blazers Take on T-Birds - Kamloops Blazers
• Wheat Kings Lose in Overtime against Tigers - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Four-Goal Third Guides Americans Past Cougars 7-2 - Tri-City Americans
• Hurricanes Double up Oil Kings 8-4 - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Blazers Down Giants 4-2 - Kamloops Blazers
• Rockets Beat Chiefs 4-3 in Shootout - Kelowna Rockets
• Overtime Heroics - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Everett blanked by Seattle - Everett Silvertips
• Hockey Hounds Game Worn Jersey Draw - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Blazers Double Giants 4-2 - Vancouver Giants
• Royals Win 6-2 over Rebels - Red Deer Rebels
• Kelowna wins in shoot - Kelowna Rockets

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