Photo by Brandi Crowe
Brandon, MB (CKLQ) – The Regina Pats scored two powerplay goals to open up the second half of the WHL season with a 3-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Thursday night.
There was a fresh path carved to the penalty box in the first period for the Brandon Wheat Kings who found themselves on the wrong end of four powerplays.
Just three minutes into the game, Brandon found themselves down two men and the Pats made them pay. Robbie Holmes tapped home his 7th of the season to open the scoring.
Midway through the period, Stelio Mattheos was ejected after he was handed a match penalty for intent to injure. After Brady Pouteau and Linden McCorrister went hard into the boards, Mattheos took exception and got his stick up on the Pats defender which cued the end of his night.
On the ensuing powerplay, the Pats made it 2-0 off the stick of Russian import Sergei Alkhimov.
Brandon got back within one early in the second period as Ridly Greig buried a loose puck from an impossible angle for his 8th of the year. The goal came on an early powerplay chance.
Late in the period, the Pats Robbie Holmes was assessed a 5:00 cross-checking major and was sent to the room. The Wheat Kings failed to register a shot on the ensuing powerplay and went into the intermission down one.
Sergei Alkhimov would notch his 2nd of the night just 2:32 into the third period to give the Pats some breathing room.
Despite a late goal from Cole Reinhardt and a last minute powerplay the Wheat Kings were unable to draw even and drop to 15-11-3-3 on the season. The win for the Pats moves them to 10-24-0-1.
Ethan Kruger, who was making his 3rd straight start stopped 19 shots while Brandon native Max Paddock stopped 21 shots for his 7th win of the season.
These two teams will meet again in 24 hours time at the Brandt Centre in Regina. (7:00 on QCountry Radio)
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
REG – Robbie Holmes (7) (Kolle, Streau) 3:29 5on3
REG – Sergei Alkhimov (8) (Sedov, Creta) 11:30 PPG
Shots: 12-4 Regina
2nd PERIOD
BWK – Ridly Greig (8) (Schneider, Higson) 5:07 PPG
Shots: 8-5 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
REG – Sergei Alkhimov (9) (Zonneveld, Clayton) 2:32
BWK – Cole Reinhardt (6) (Burzan) 10:56
Final Shots: 23-22 Brandon