Wheat Kings Take Game 3

March 31, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release

Edmonton, AB. - The Brandon Wheat Kings have climbed back into their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with Edmonton.

Jordan Papirny turned aside 34 shots - including two key stops in the third period - and Jayce Hawryluk set up all three goals as the Wheat Kings defeated the Oil Kings 3-1 in game three Wednesday night.

The Oil Kings, who host game four Thursday night, still lead the best of seven series two games to one.

Nolan Patrick's powerplay goal with 1:23 remaining in the second period snapped a 1-1 tie as the Wheat Kings ended a drought that had seen them go 0-for-12 with the man advantage in the series.

"If we had let that many opportunities slip through our fingers, it would have cost us the game," Brandon general manager and head coach Kelly McCrimmon told Bruce Luebke on CKLQ's post game show. "Patrick on a wrist shot and then a really nice play Hawryluk to Coulter to give us that insurance and allow us to build on that lead."

Brandon finished the night 2-8 with the man advantage while successfully killing off both Edmonton powerplays.

Scoreless after one, former AAA Midget Wheat King Connor Gutenberg opened the scoring with his first career WHL playoff goal four minutes into the second. Lane Bauer, who returned to Edmonton's lineup after missing the first two games with an upper body injury, tied it up six minutes later and set the stage for what turned out to be Patrick's game winner.

Tyler Coulter rounded out the scoring, five minutes into the third.

Due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair occupying the Keystone Centre this week, games three, four and 5 of this series will be played at Rexall Place. Wednesday's win by the Wheat Kings, who led the Conference with a 23-10-3-0 road record during the regular season, means game five will be played Sunday afternoon in the Alberta capital.

Should the series return to Brandon for games six and 7 (if necessary), the games will be played Tuesday and Wednesday nights at Westman Communications Group Place.

Western Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2016

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• Silvertips Announce Second Round WHL Playoffs Schedule vs. Seattle Thunderbirds - Everett Silvertips
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• Huskies Netminder Cooke Earns WHL Grad of the Month - WHL
• Derlago Cracks Top 20 All Time - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Hitmen to Host Game 4 Friday at the Stampede Corral - Calgary Hitmen
• Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time: Linden, Derkatch, Derlago Named to List by Fans - WHL
• Year in Review: Part 2 - Big Games - Medicine Hat Tigers
• T-Birds Release Second Round Playoff Schedule vs. Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Wheat Kings Take Game 3 - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Silvertips Sweep Portland - Everett Silvertips
• Blazers Beat Rockets 5-1, Even Series at Two - Kamloops Blazers
• Spokane Disappointed in Overtime in Game Four - Spokane Chiefs
• Royals Down Chiefs in OT in Game 4 - Victoria Royals
• T-Birds Sweep Cougars to Advance to Second Round of Playoffs - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Series Tied 2-2: Blazers Beat Rockets 4-1 - Kelowna Rockets
• Oil Kings Drop Game 3 to Brandon 3-1 - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Pats Move within a Game of Advancing - Regina Pats
• Winterhawks Fall 4-2 as Everett Advances to Second Round - Portland Winterhawks

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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