Photo by Tim Smith (Brandon Sun)
Brandon, MB (CKLQ) – Brett Davis had a four-point night as the Red Deer Rebels handed the Wheat Kings a 5-3 loss on Friday night.
The Rebels four Manitoban born players combined for six points on the night as they move to within one point of 1st place in the Central Division.
The Wheat Kings who are desperately trying to climb back into the WHL Playoff picture fell behind early. Cameron Hausinger slipped to the back door and took a great feed from Brett Davis to open the scoring for the Rebels.
A quick response from the Wheaties evened the game back up at one. For the third straight game, Ben McCartney scored the first Wheat Kings goal. McCartney’s 12th of the year deflected off his stick as he drove the net on a two-on-one with Stelio Mattheos.
In the second, the Rebels rattled off three straight goals to open up a 4-1 lead. Alex Morozoff and Chris Douglas scored 1:03 apart to put the Rebels up 3-1. Then, already behind the eight ball, the Wheat Kings found themselves in penalty trouble.
Ben McCartney took a double-minor for slough-footing, which was followed up by a Ty Thorpe tripping minor to put Red Deer on a five-on-three situation. As the first penalty expired, Brett Davis hammered a point shot past Jiri Patera to put the Rebels ahead 4-1.
Brandon wouldn’t go away quietly though. Just 0:15 later, Stelio Mattheos snapped home his 27th of the year from the bottom of the circle to get Brandon back into the game heading to the intermission.
The Rebels would put the game away just 1:01 into the third period as Cam Hausinger picked up his 2nd of the night.
Brandon would get back to within two on Stelio Mattheos’ 2nd of the night but it was a close as they would get to mounting a comeback. Mattheos finished the night with two goals and an assist.
Ethan Anders earned the win, making 22 saves while Jiri Patera stopped 26 shots for the Wheat Kings.
Brandon continues this weekend three-in-three Saturday night in Moose Jaw. (7:00 on QCountry)
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
RD – Cam Hausinger (13) (Davis, Douglas) 8:03 PPG
BWK – Ben McCartney (12) (Mattheos) 9:20
Shots: 10-9 Red Deer
2nd PERIOD
RD – Alex Morozoff (7) (Davis, Smith) 7:52
RD – Chris Douglas (11) (Johnson, Tarzwell) 8:55
RD – Brett Davis (13) (Alexyev, Hagel) 17:08 PPG
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (27) (Burzan, Reinhardt) 17:23
Shots: 15-3 Red Deer
3rd PERIOD
RD – Cam Hausinger (14) (Barteaux, Davis) 1:01
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (28) (Wytinck) 8:34
Final Shots: 31-25 Red Deer