Photo by Brandi Pollock
Moose Jaw, SK (CKLQ) – The Brandon Wheat Kings dropped a 3-2 overtime decision on Friday night as they opened a mini two-game Saskatchewan road trip in Moose Jaw.
For the first time this season the Wheat Kings surrendered the first goal of the game. Justin Almeida was johnny on the spot to fire a Tristan Langan rebound past Jiri Patera. The powerplay goal was the Warriors 3rd of the season.
After holding the Wheat Kings off the shot-clock for the first half of the 1st period, Stelio Mattheos ripped a snapshot over the shoulder of Warriors starter Brodan Salmond to tie the game at one.
After a scoreless second, Belarussian import Daniil Stepanov took a perfect breakaway stretch pass from Josh Brook and snapped home his first WHL goal.
Once again, Stelio Mattheos was quick to respond for the Wheat Kings. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect took a pass from Schael Higson and snapped home a nearly identical goal over the shoulder of Salmond to tie the game at two.
In the 3on3 overtime, the Warriors won the opening faceoff and Captain Josh Brook took it wide into the Brandon end, beat Luka Burzan to the goal and slipped the puck through the legs of Jiri Patera to end the game.
Brook would finish the night with a goal and an assist and was named the game’s first star.
The win moves the Warriors back to .500 (2-2-1-0) with a home date tomorrow vs the Swift Current Broncos.
Brandon remains undefeated in regulation (3-0-1-0) and will head down the Trans-Canada to take on the Regina Pats tomorrow night (Saturday, 7:30PM on QCountry Radio).
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
MJ – Justin Almeida (3) (Langan, Brook) 14:52 PPG
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (3) (Reinhardt, Hartje) 16:51
Shots: 10-6 Moose Jaw
2nd PERIOD
No Scoring
Shots: 11-8 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
MJ – Daniil Stepanov (1) (Brook, Hunt) 2:17
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (4) (Higson, Gutenberg) 7:48
Shots: 11-5 Moose Jaw
OVERTIME
MJ – Josh Brook (3) (Langan) 0:16 GWG
Final Shots: 30-22
