Photo: Members of both the Brandon Wheat Kings and Lethbridge Hurricanes meet at centre ice for a tribute to the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos
Lethbridge, AB (CKLQ) – The Brandon Wheat Kings find themselves in familiar territory after a 5-4 overtime loss in Lethbridge on Saturday night.
For the 2nd time in the 2018 WHL Playoffs, the Wheat Kings are down two games to nothing to a Central Division opponent.
"Both teams took a lot of penalties tonight and it took the flow out of the game," said Wheat Kings Head Coach David Anning.
Fourteen minor penalties were called on the night, however unlike in game number one powerplay goals were at a premium. Both teams combined for just one powerplay marker on the night.
Brandon scored first in the game for just the second time in eight playoff games and quickly opened up a 4-0 lead early in the 2nd period. After the 4th goal, the Hurricanes took their thirty second timeout. That proved to be a turning point as Lethbridge finished the period on a 2-0 run with a four on four goal and a short-handed marker.
In the third, the Hurricanes dominated on the shotclock, outshooting the Wheat Kings 16-7. The tying goal game with just 3:29 left on the clock as Jake Elmer finally broke and 0 for 6 run on the powerplay.
Tate Olsen would end it late in the first overtime as his shot skipped off the glove of Dylan Myskiw and over the goal line. Olsen finished the night with three points.
Brandon, who got four different goal scorers on the night now faces the same situation as in the first round series with Medicine Hat, returning home in a hole.
"We have to draw on the experiences that we’ve been there before," said Anning. "We responded well when our backs were up against the wall and we needed to win game three and four. We need to make sure we’re ready to play on Tuesday."
Brandon will be playing their first playoff game at the Keystone Centre since May 7th, 2016 when they beat Seattle 3-2 in overtime to take a 2-0 series lead on route to the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
"We’re excited to come home. There is going to be lots of energy in the building," added Anning. "We worked hard to get back to Brandon. We gave ourselves a chance to play in the 2nd round and now we want to make the most of it."
Tickets for game’s three and four are on sale now at the Keystone Centre Box Office and online.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
BWK – Marcus Sekundiak (4) (Bettens, Myskiw) 2:53
Shots: 14-5 Lethbridge
2nd PERIOD
BWK – Connor Gutenberg (3) (Unassisted) 2:55
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (4) (McCorrister) 3:36
BWK – Evan Weinger (3) (McCorrister, Schneider) 4:27 SHG
LETH – Jordy Bellerive (7) (Olsen, Morrison) 15:26 4on4
LETH – Taylor Ross (8) (Cozens) 17:29 SHG
Shots: 15-6 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
LETH – Jody Bellerive (8) (Stanley, Wilson) 12:11
LETH – Jake Elmer (2) (Olsen, Franklin) 17:22 PPG
Shots: 16-7 Lethbridge
OVERTIME
LETH – Tate Olsen (3) (Morrison, Bellerive) 16:31
Final Shots: 47-33 Lethbridge
