Regina, SK (CKLQ) – The Brandon Wheat Kings got goals from seven different players on route to a 7-3 victory over the Regina Pats on Saturday night.
The Pats dominated the first period, outshooting the Wheat Kings 17-10 but it was a buzzer beater goal on the powerplay that opened the scoring for Brandon.
With less than 10 seconds left on the clock, Jiri Patera came out of his crease and send a long hail mary pass to Stelio Mattheos. Mattheos quickly sent it over to Cole Reinhardt who beat Regina netminder Dean McNabb with just 0.06 seconds left in the period.
The momentum quickly shifted in the 2nd period as the Wheat Kings exploded for five goals, to open up a 6-1 lead.
After a HUGE Baron Thompson body-check Jonny Hooker took a loose puck and beat Dean McNabb for his first of the year.
The Pats would quickly respond however, Austin Pratt snapped home his 3rd of the season, finishing off a 2on1 rush with Nikita Sedov. The goal would cut the Wheat Kings lead to one.
Just four minutes later, Ben McCartney took a pass from Ridly Greig, batted it out of mid-air and beat McNabb for his first of the season to restore the two-goal lead.
Less than a minute later the Pats went to the powerplay but it was the Wheat Kings who found the back of the net, not once but twice. Caiden Daley and Lynden McCallum scored shorthanded breakaway goals just 0:28 seconds apart to stun the Brandt Centre crowd and give Brandon a 5-1 lead.
For good measure, Stelio Mattheos would snap home his 3rd goal in two games on the powerplay to make it 6-1 at the 2nd intermission.
The Pats would add a pair of goals in the third period to make it interesting but Connor Gutenberg’s 2nd of the season would seal the deal and help Brandon take 3 of 4 points from Division Rivals here this Thanksgiving weekend.
Jiri Patera was excellent between the pipes for Brandon making 37 saves. He was named the game’s first star. Meanwhile, Dean McNabb was pulled after allowing six goals on 25 shots. He was replaced by Prince Albert Mintos goalie Carter Woodside.
The Wheat Kings will now enjoy some time off before welcoming the Moose Jaw Warriors to Westoba Place next Friday. (7:30 on QCountry Radio)
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
BWK – Cole Reinhardt (2) (Matthoes, Patera) 19:59 PPG
Shots: 17-10 Regina
2nd PERIOD
BWK – Jonny Hooker (1) (Unassisted) 2:34
REG – Austin Pratt (3) (Sedov, Gavlas) 3:46
BWK – Ben McCartney (1) (Greig) 7:37
BWK – Caiden Daley (1) (Unassisted) 8:53 SHG
BWK – Lynden McCallum (1) (Unassisted) 9:21 SHG
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (5) (Higson, Gutenberg) 16:48 PPG
Shots: 15-8 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
REG – Nick Henry (1) (Krane, Wright) 1:49
BWK – Connor Gutenberg (2) (McCorrister, Daley) 8:01
REG – Scott Mahovlich (1) (Njihoff, Harkins) 14:23
Final Shots: 40-34 Regina