Photo by Brandi Crowe
Brandon, MB (CKLQ) – Cole Reinhardt was the overtime hero as the Brandon Wheat Kings earned their fourth straight victory, 3-2 over the Swift Current Broncos.
The Wheat Kings, coming off the biggest weekend of the year did not get the start they wanted on Monday afternoon, trailing the Broncos 1-0 after one.
Midway through the first period, Ian Briscoe tipped home a Garrett Sambrook point-shot to open the scoring on just the 2nd Bronco shot on goal.
The Wheat Kings would tie the game up midway through the 2nd period as Jonny Hooker followed up a drive to the net by Stelio Mattheos and poked home his 3rd of the year past Isaac Poulter.
Poulter, who hails from Winnipeg would make 39 saves on the night.
The momentum wouldn’t last long for Brandon as the Broncos responded 1:25 later. This time it was Owen Blocker with a rocket shot that beat Jiri Patera over the shoulder to restore the Bronco lead.
Patera, who was making his fifth straight start kicked aside 12 shots on the night earning his 19th win of the season.
In the third, a red hot Luka Burzan pulled the Wheat Kings even on the powerplay. His 34th of the season sent the game to overtime for the third time in the season series.
Moments after being robbed of the game-winner, Cole Reinhardt took the puck to the net and buried his 19th of the season to give the Wheat Kings the extra point they so desperately needed to continue their climb into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
With the win, Brandon now sits two points back of Red Deer and four back of the Calgary Hitmen for the two wild-card spots.
Brandon will take on the Hitmen in one of the most important games of the year on Wednesday night here at Westoba Place. (7:00 on QCountry Radio).
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
S.C – Ian Briscoe (3) (Sambrook, Smithies) 9:55
Shots: 9-6 Brandon
2nd PERIOD
BWK – Jonny Hooker (3) (Mattheos, Burzan) 15:34
S.C – Owen Blocker (5) (Sowa, Houk) 16:59
Shots: 14-5 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
BWK – Luka Burzan (34) (Gutenberg, Wytinck) 7:51 PPG
Shots: 16-2 Brandon
OVERTIME
BWK – Cole Reinhardt (19) (Gutenberg, Mattheos) 4:01
Final Shots: 42-14 Brandon
