Photo by Robert Murray (WHL)
Kamloops, BC (CKLQ) – Another clutch performance from Stelio Mattheos lifted the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 3-2 win over the Kamloops Blazers in front of over 5000 fans at the Sandman Centre.
Friday’s game had a ton of pace and energy early on with the Wheat Kings carrying the play in the opening 10:00, leading 9-1 on the shot clock at one point. However, it was the Blazers who would open the scoring. Zane Franklin took a nifty pass from Orin Centazzo and tucked it through the five-hole of Jiri Patera to give the Blazers the lead.
In the 2nd, both teams had a plethora of chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. With just 8.9 seconds left, Marcus Sekundiak sent a pass to Stelio Mattheos in front, who went crashing into Dylan Ferguson and knocked the net off. On the ice, the officials waved off the goal stating the net was off.
Upon a long video review, the call was reversed and Mattheos’ 15th of the season sent the teams to the locker room tied at one.
Both teams would exchange third-period goals and despite a four-minute powerplay to end the third period, the Wheat Kings couldn’t pull ahead. Both goaltenders, prospects in the Vegas Golden Knights system stood on their heads. Jiri Patera finished the night with 32 saves while Dylan Ferguson was named the game’s first star, turning aside 38 shots in the loss.
In the extra frame, Linden McCorrister sprung the captain on a breakaway and the Carolina Hurricanes prospect made no mistake faking out Ferguson and lifting a backhand over the sprawled out netminder to win the game for Brandon.
The Wheat Kings move back to .500 on this road trip (2-2-1-1) and will look to wrap this journey up with a victory on Saturday night in Kelowna. (9:05 MB time on QCountry Radio.)
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
KAM – Zane Franklin (11) (Smith, Centazzo) 13:18
Shots: 14-10 Brandon
2nd PERIOD
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (15) (Sekundiak) 19:51 PPG
Shots: 11-10 Kamloops
3rd PERIOD
BWK – Chase Hartje (2) (Unassisted) 7:05
KAM – Luke Zazula (2) (Stuart) 13:47
Shots: 15-10 Brandon
OVERTIME
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (16) (McCorrister) 3:44
Final Shots: 41-34 Brandon