The Brandon Wheat Kings have been playing a solid brand of hockey for quite a while now. They’ve beaten teams above them and below them. On Sunday afternoon, they had an opportunity — and a good one at that — to take down a team below them in the standings and earn two points.
However, that wasn’t the case in the end. A late goal from the Regina Pats pushed the game into overtime and an early goal in the extra five minutes sealed the game to gave the Pats two points while Brandon was awarded one.
If there was a bright spot in the defeat, it was that Brandon did secure one point to continue its chase of the East Division-leading Prince Albert Raiders. Another bright spot in the game was Brandon’s power play as it capitalized twice on seven chances.
The Wheat Kings opened the scoring in the game when Chad Nychuk netted his sixth of the season at the 8:10 mark. Zach Wytinck played 180 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings before he was dealt to Regina earlier this season. The skilled defender made his old team pay. Just more than a minute after Brandon opened the scoring, Wytinck tied the game up with his seventh.
On a power play late in the frame, Brandon got its lead back. Ridly Greig potted his 21st of the season with just more than four minutes left as Brandon led 2-1 after 20.
(Photo – Keith Hershmiller)
Jake Johnson answered, tying the game for Regina with 3:32 left in the second. Brandon bounced right back, however. At the 17:23 mark, Ben McCartney tickled the twine for the 23rd time this season to give Brandon a 3-2 lead after 40.
Brandon was on another power play late in the third, but it was the Pats who made being down a man work for them. With just more than three minutes left, Carter Chorney knotted the game up at three, forcing overtime.
2:13 into overtime, Austin Pratt recorded his 19th of the season as the Pats skated to victory while dealing Brandon with a tough defeat.
The Wheat Kings remain on the road for a date with Swift Current on Wednesday. After that, they’re in Calgary on Friday and Lethbridge on Saturday.
Wheat Tips:
- Jonny Lambos played in his 100th career game for Brandon.
- Ethan Kruger stopped 24-of-28 shots for Brandon while Donovan Buskey was solid for Regina as he turned away 31 shots.
- Regina now has 20 wins and three out of four points in the past two games.
