Wheat Kings Can't Close Out Broncos

Tim McGauley scored a goal in Wednesday's
loss in Swift Current

  The Brandon Wheat Kings let a 3-1 third period lead slip away in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday night.

  Nathan Burns and Coda Gordon scored 6-on-5 goals in the final 2:14 for the Broncos before Graham Black netted the winner with a penalty shot goal 1:43 into overtime.

  “We had done a lot of things that were exactly what we needed to do in order to win in here tonight,” said Brandon GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon on CKLQ’s post-game show, “We were in great position late in the game and  gave up two goals with the goalie out and didn’t bounce back in overtime.”

  Chad Robinson’s goal 7:29 into the second period was the only goal for the first 40 minutes of the contest, with Tim McGauley stretching Brandon’s lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal 3 ½ minutes into the third period.

  Jake  DeBrusk got the Broncos on the board just  past the six minute mark but Rihards Bukarts restored Brandon’s two-goal lead with 5:36 remaining in regulation.

  That set the stage for the Broncos comeback, which came just five days after the Wheat Kings had come back from three two-goal deficits to beat Swift Current 6-5 in Brandon.

  Brandon has surrendered five 6-on-5 goals so far in 2013-2014 and McCrimmon says their inability to win key faceoffs was a big reasons for Wednesday’s letdown.

  “In some of these situations we’ve had like this, that’s something that’s been a problem for us so that was part of it,” said McCrimmon, “Then, I just think composure, getting the job done with the game on the line.  We didn’t finish our job here tonight.”

  Curtis Honey made 39 saves in the Brandon net while Eetu Laurikainen stopped 32 shots for Swift Current.

  The victory moved the Broncos into sole possession of first-place in the East Division, one point ahead of Brandon – though the Wheat Kings do have two games in hand.

  Brandon’s next game is Saturday when they host the Prince George Cougars (7:30 p.m., Westman Communications Group Place).

Chaff…D Ryan Pulock (illness) missed Wednesday’s game while F John Quenneville left after the first period with what is believed to be an upper body injury…Regina lost 5-2 in Edmonton on Wednesday, leaving the Pats two points behind Brandon and three behind the Broncos in the East Division…the first 2,000 fans in attendance at Saturday’s game will receive a Matt Calvert bobblehead, courtesy of MTS Connect.

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