Photo by Brandi Pollock
Brandon, MB (CKLQ) – A little home cooking was all that the Brandon Wheat Kings needed to get back into the WHL’s Eastern Conference Semi-Final.
Stelio Mattheos (1G-3A) & Linden McCorrister (1G-2A) and Luka Burzan (2G) lead the way for the Wheat Kings as they beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-4 on Tuesday night.
The Wheat Kings scored first for just the third time in the WHL Playoffs as Linden McCorrister lit the lamp just 3:57 into the game.
In a truly heart warming moment, Humboldt’s Logan Barlage scored his 2nd of the post-season late in the first period. Barlage celebrated by pointing to the sky, in recognition of the 15 people who lost their lives in the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus accident on Friday night.
A couple of Brandon Boys would find their way onto the score sheet one after the other. Ty Lewis made it 2-1 Brandon late in the first before Calen Addison tied the game up early in the 2nd.
Luka Burzan and Brad Morrison would exchange goals before the midway point of the 2nd period to tie the game at three.
With less than 2:25 left in the middle frame, the Wheat Kings rattle off two quick goals, giving them their largest lead of the night at 5-3.
The Hurricanes would get a powerplay goal in the third period to cut the lead to one, but that was a close as they would get.
Dylan Myskiw made 35 saves for his 5th career post-season win while Logan Flodell took the loss, turning aside 35 shots as well.
Game four goes Wednesday night at Westoba Place. (7:00 puck drop, 6:30 broadcast)
CROWE’S NOTES
-The Wheat Kings scratched Logan Thompson (Lower Body), Ty Ettinger (Healthy), Jonny Hooker (Healthy) & Gunnar Wegleitner (Healthy).
-The Wheat Kings finished the night 1/6 on the powerplay, the Hurricanes 2/5.
-$6,680 dollars was raised tonight in support of the Humboldt Broncos, with another night of fundraising set to take place during game four on Wednesday night.
-Attendance at Westoba Place was 3,710
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
BWK – Linden McCorrister (5) (Gutenberg, Weinger) 3:57
LETH – Logan Barlage (2) (Franklin, Zudilov) 16:08
BWK – Ty Lewis (5) (McCorrister, Mattheos) 18:51 PPG
Shots: 18-15 Lethbridge
2nd PERIOD
LETH – Calen Addison (3) (Blocker) 2:54
BWK – Luka Burzan (3) (Lewis, Mattheos) 3:12
LETH – Brad Morrison (7) (Ross, Bellerive) 9:12 4on3
BWK – Luka Burzan (4) (McCorrister, Mattheos) 17:35
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (5) (Lewis, Hartje) 19:15
Shots: 15-12 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
LETH – Brad Morrison (7) (Ross, Addison) 14:35 PPG
Final Shots: 40-39 Brandon
