Photo by Brandi Pollock
Brandon, MB (CKLQ) – A three goal third period lifted the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 5-3 victory over the Regina Pats on Wednesday night.
Evan Weinger (1G-1A), Ty Lewis (1G-1A) & Stelio Mattheos (1G-1A) all had multi-point nights for Brandon who were kicking off the 2nd half of the WHL season after a 10-day Christmas Break.
After opening the scoring on a shorthanded goal, the Wheat Kings found themselves down 2-1 on a pair of strange goals. First, Logan Thompson mis-read a Robbie Holmes dump in and found himself standing behind the net as the puck rolled across the goal line.
Despite heavy argument from the Wheat Kings coaching staff that the Pats were offside, the goal counted. Early in the 2nd period, it was Logan Nijhoff taking a gift of a turnover into the slot and beating Thompson over the blocker. Both goals were one the Wheat King netminder would like to have back.
Cole Reinhardt’s 2nd period goal to tie the game would set up the third period offensive outburst. Ty Lewis, Evan Weinger and Linden McCorrister would all beat Max Paddock in the final frame to lift Brandon to victory.
Paddock, who was making his first start in his home town made 30 saves while Thompson earned his 20th win of the season by making 27 saves.
Both teams struggled on the powerplay on Wednesday. Brandon finished 0/6 while the Pats went 0/3.
The win moves Brandon 16 points up on the Pats for 3rd place in the WHL’s Eastern Division, but the Wheat Kings remain 3 points back of Swift Current who beat Moose Jaw on Wednesday night.
Brandon and Regina will meet again on Thursday night at the Brandt Centre in Regina. (6:30 pre-game show on QCountry radio.)
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (26) (Kaspick, Schneider) 13:37 SHG
REG – Robbie Holmes (8) (Fleury) 19:33
Shots: 13-11 Brandon
2nd PERIOD
REG – Logan Nijhoff (1) (Unassisted) 4:05
BWK – Cole Reinhardt (11) (B.Thompson, Wytinck) 14:36
Shots: 9-7 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
BWK – Ty Lewis (18) (Weinger, Gutenberg) 3:38
REG – Robbie Holmes (9) (Zamula, Fleury) 7:25
BWK – Evan Weinger (15) (Lewis) 7:55
BWK – Linden McCorrister (10) (Mattheos, Bukac) 18:28
Final Shots: 35-30 Brandon
