Photo by Brandi Crowe
Medicine Hat, AB (CKLQ) – The Brandon Wheat Kings ended their four-game Alberta road trip with 5-0 loss in Medicine Hat on Friday night.
The Wheat Kings forgot to get off the bus on Saturday night found themselves down 2-0 before the ice had time to freeze.
Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Wheat Kings were outshot 15-4 in the first period and down 3-0 on the scoreboard.
James Hamblin opened the scoring on a 4on4 situation just 3:46 into the game.
Lundar, MB native Logan Christensen made it 2-0 Tigers just three minutes later as he beat Connor Unger, who was making his 2nd career WHL start.
Late in the period, Brett Kemp added to the Tiger lead with a powerplay goal. The former Oil King now has 26 goals on the year.
The goal would spell the end of the night for Ungar, who turned aside 8 of the 11 shots he faced. Kruger would finish the night with 20 saves in relief.
The parade to the penalty box continued in the 2nd period for the Wheat Kings who found themselves shorthanded twice more before the midway point of the middle frame. The Tigers would capitalize on the 2nd opportunity as Ryan Jevne notched his 22nd of the year to open up a four-goal lead for the Tigers
Medicine Hat would add one more in the third on route to their 28th victory of the season. Danish import Mads Sogaard turned aside 17 shots for his 2nd career WHL Shutout.
The win opens up a nine-point spread between the Tigers and the Wheat Kings for the top Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.
Brand wraps up the road trip with a record of 2-1-0-1, earning five of a possible eight points. With Calgary also losing on Saturday night, the Wheat Kings remain four points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand.
The Wheat Kings are back on the ice Tuesday for the final "Two-for-Tuesday" of the season. The Saskatoon Blades are in town for a 7:00 start at Westoba Place.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
MH – James Hamblin (28) (Nassen) 3:46 4on4
MH – Logan Christensen (6) (McCarry) 6:52
MH – Brett Kemp (26) (Jevne, Nassen) 11:54 PPG
Shots: 15-4 Medicine Hat
2nd PERIOD
MH – Ryan Jevne (22) (Hamblin, Chyzowski) 14:50 PPG
Shots: 8-5 Medicine Hat
3rd PERIOD
MH – Elijah Brown (10) (Steele) 5:58
Final Shots: 32-16 Medicine Hat