After staging a two-goal comeback the previous night to beat Tri-City 5-2, the Brandon Wheat Kings were on the wrong end of one against the Spokane Chiefs.
Despite two first period goals by Anthony Wilson, the Wheat Kings dropped the game by a 3-2 count. Ethan Eskit stopped 26 of 29 shots, while at the other end Dawson Cowan made 27 saves. Berkly Catton scored twice for the Chiefs.
“We had some chances to make it three or four nothing and we just didn’t bear down and score,” said head coach and GM Marty Murray. “They got a power play goal to make it 2-1 and got some momentum off that, much like our game last night. We got down 2-0 and found a way to get some confidence and climb back into it, and that’s what happened the wrong way tonight.”
Wilson scored the first goal of the game for the Wheat Kings off an area pass by Kayden Sadhra-Kang. He caught up to it, broke to the net with speed, and opened up the five-hole on Cowan to make it 1-0.
At 4-on-4, Wilson showed off his skill again. This time he deked his way along the top of the zone, cut quickly back to the slot and, with a laser-guided wrister, hit the junction of the post and crossbar to make it 2-0.
In the second, despite a few chances around the net by the Wheat Kings, the goals came the way of the Chiefs, and they too got both goals from one player. First, Catton snapped home a one-timer early in the second power play of the period for the Chiefs. Then, breaking in off the rush, he went bar-down with a perfectly placed shot.
Road legs seemed to catch up to the Wheat Kings in the third and the Chiefs, pressing hard, took advantage. Off a scrambly play off the draw, Cole Wadsworth settled a cross crease pass and knocked it home for what proved to be the game winner.
The Wheat Kings refused to go quietly. They flung themselves into the forcheck, especially with the net empty. Dominik Petr hammered a one-timer off the post. But it wasn’t enough to break through and the Chiefs took it 3-2.
After some needed rest, the Wheat Kings will visit the Seattle Thunderbirds on Tuesday, October 17.
(Article courtesy of the Brandon Wheat Kings)
