As advertised, the Seattle Thunderbirds came to Brandon willing to mix it up and eager to fire shots on net. The Wheat Kings, however, were ready for them on both counts.
Chase Surkan and Kris Muissu scored, and Filip Ruzicka was sensational with 36 saves as the Wheat Kings beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 2-1. The win was the first home win of the season for the Wheat Kings against an out of conference opponent.
“It was kind of a funny game,” said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. “In the second period we were in the box way too much, we had five penalty kills in 21 minutes and that’s too much time in the box, some guys were playing too much and some of our best offensive players were sitting on the bench. It kind of takes the rhythm out of the game. But the PK did a good job tonight, Filip made some big saves when it mattered, and we found a way to get it done.”
Brady Turko drew two power plays for the Wheat Kings, but they weren’t able to score on either and Seattle made good on their first. Matthew Guard sent the puck out front from behind the Brandon net, and it bounced around and settled just long enough for Antonio Martorana to open the scoring.
But the Wheat Kings had the better of play at even strength and they took advantage late in the first. Josh McGregor jumped up from the left point to corner and sent the puck to Surkan at the left circle. The Regina native fired a pinpoint accurate shot over the shoulder of Grayson Malinoski to tie the game.
Early in the second, the Wheat Kings had to kill off 28 seconds of 5-on-3, then another power play when Ruzicka took exception to Gard hacking away at him in the crease. Brandon killed both off. Ultimately the Wheat Kings would kill five Seattle power plays in the second period to preserve the 1-1 tie.
Off an offensive zone draw, the Wheat Kings took the lead for the first time. Jaxon Jacobson tied up the draw on the left wing long enough for Muissu to swoop in, steal the puck, and snap it past Malinoski.
Late in the third, with their net empty, the Thunderbirds threw everything they could at Ruzicka. But the big Czech netminder had the answer to every shot slung his way and steered the Wheat Kings to their second straight win.
For now, the Wheat Kings remain on home ice and welcome the Everett Silvertips on Sunday afternoon at 4:00.
