Photo by Keith Hershmiller
The Brandon Wheat Kings fired everything but the kitchen sink at Saskatoon Blades netminder Nolan Maier, but the Yorkton, SK native was unphased, making 42 saves in a 3-2 Blades win on Sunday night.
The win moves the Blades into sole possession of top spot in the East Division with 26 points.
“I didn’t like our start tonight,” said Head Coach Don MacGillivray. “I thought we got ourselves back into the game in the second period and gave ourselves a chance to win. You can’t fault the effort tonight, we just have to be a little sharper around the net.”
Brandon’s 44 shots was a season high and included a 20 shot second period, also a season high.
Three of the five goals on the night came on the powerplay. Chase Wouters and Kyle Crnkovic potted powerplay markers for the Blades while Ben McCartney responded for the Wheat Kings.
Ridly Greig scored late in the third, but the Wheat Kings ran out of time.
“I thought in the second and third period, we were the better hockey team,” said Captain Braden Schneider. “We created as much offence as we could and we were taking it to them. Im happy with the finish, but I think if we had started that game better it would have gone our way.”
Ethan Kruger made 19 saves for Brandon in his first start after two nights off.
Brandon is back in action on Tuesday afternoon when they take on the Moose Jaw Warriors (5:00 on Q Country.)