Photo by Brandi Crowe
Prince Albert, SK (CKLQ) – The Brandon Wheat Kings shocked the crowd in Prince Albert on Friday night with a 5-4 overtime win, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
In a fast-paced, hard-hitting first period it was the Raiders who would draw first blood.
After a faceoff in the offensive zone, the Wheat King defenders got puck watching and allowed Sean Montgomery to sneak to the front of the goal uncovered. The puck rolled right to him and 20-year-old made no mistake for his 23rd of the year.
Despite the Raiders gaining momentum from the goal, Brandon responded 3:11 later.
Ben McCartney and Connor Gutenberg took off on a two on one and McCartney elected to shoot, that decision was a good one as he beat Boston Bilous for his 17th of the year.
Bilous, who was acquired from the Edmonton Oil Kings was making his 3rd straight start as Ian Scott remains out with an injury. The Calgary native finished the night with 21saves.
Brandon took their first lead of the game, just 3:27 into the 2nd period. Stelio Mattheos grabbed a loose puck in the corner and sent it to the front of the goal. The puck bounced off the skate of Cole Reinhardt and through the legs of Bilous.
The Raiders hung around in the 2nd period and Parker Kelly would tie the game up at two. Max Martin sent a perfect pass from blue line to blue line to spring Kelly on a breakaway and the Ottawa Senators draft pick would make no mistake, beating Jiri Patera for his 28th of the season.
The teams would go back and forth in the third period, each adding a pair of goals. Brandon getting one from Caiden Daley and another from Luka Burzan while Kelly added his 2nd of the night, following an Aleksi Protas marker.
After 60 minutes of entertaining hockey, we needed extra time.
Both teams traded chances in the extra frame but with 1:54 left on the clock, Zach Wytinck fired a wrist shot from the point that found its way into the Raider goal, sending the Wheat Kings bench into a frenzy.
The win gives the Wheat Kings a HUGE two points and keeps their hopes for a wild-card playoff spot alive. It was also the first time all season long that the Raiders have lost in OT.
**Calgary and Red Deer were still in action at the time of publishing**
These two teams will meet again in Brandon on Saturday night. (7:30 on QCountry Radio)
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
PA – Sean Montgomery (23) (Hannoun, Kelly) 10:35
BWK – Ben McCartney (17) (Unassisted) 13:46
Shots: 12-7 Prince Albert
2nd PERIOD
BWK – Cole Reinhardt (17) (Mattheos) 3:27
PA – Parker Kelly (28) (Sapego, Martin) 14:10
Shots: 9-8 Prince Albert
3rd PERIOD
PA – Aleksi Protas (10) (Nachbauer) 2:48
BWK – Caiden Daley (5) (Unassisted) 8:43
PA – Parker Kelly (29) (Martin, Protas) 13:25 PPG
BWK – Luka Burzan (32) (Reinhardt) 13:4
Shots: 10-10
OVERTIME
BWK – Zach Wytinck (4) (Nychuk) 3:06
Final Shots: 32-28 Prince Albert