For the Reporter
Three overtime finishes, three heartbreaking losses for the Thunderbirds.
For the third time in five nights, Seattle came up short in the extra period, falling to the Brandon Wheat Kings 3-2 in Game 3 of the Western Hockey League championship series at the ShoWare Center on Tuesday.
The Wheat Kings, with a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, can clinch the title on Kent ice Wednesday. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
Back in Manitoba, Brandon won Game 1 last Friday and Game 2 last Saturday in overtime by the score of 3-2.
On Tuesday night, Reid Duke scored the game-winning goal in overtime with a wrist shot from the slot 2:59 into the extra period. Mitch Wheaton had the only assist on the goal.
Brandon took a 1-0 lead at 5:17 of the first period on a goal from John Quenneville. Macoy Erkamps and Tim McGauley had the assists.
Seattle struck for two power-play goals in 38 seconds to take a 2-1 lead. Alexander True banged home a rebound on a five-on-three power play from the top of the crease at 12:27 of the first to tie the game. Mathew Barzal passed the puck from the high slot to Keegan Kolesar to the left of the goal. Kolesar took a shot that came right to True.
Kolesar made it a 2-1 lead at 13:05 of the first with a five-on-four power-play goal. Ethan Bear passed the puck to Barzal who carried it down the right boards. Barzal centered the puck to Kolesar in the slot. Kolesar beat Jordan Papirny with a wrist shot.
Brandon outshot Seattle 9-8 in the first period.
After two periods the Wheat Kings led 21-18 in shots by outshooting the T-Birds 12-10 in the second period.
Quenneville tied the game 2-2 at 8:38 of the third period. McGauley and Duke had the assists.
Brandon outshot Seattle 35-24 in the game.
Seattle goalie Landon Bow made 32 saves on 35 shots.
Papirny stopped 22 of 24 shots.
WHL championship schedule
Game 1 – At Brandon 3, Seattle 2, OT
Game 2 – At Brandon 3, Seattle 2, OT
Game 3 – Brandon 3, at Seattle 2, OT
Game 4 – Wednesday, May 11 at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 – Friday, May 13 at Seattle, 7:35 p.m.*
Game 6 – Sunday, May 15 at Brandon, 5 p.m.*
Game 7 – Monday, May 16 at Brandon, 5 p.m.*
* if necessary
Tickets, promotions
Game 4 is White Out Wednesday. The first 5,000 fans will receive a special, limited edition free T-Birds white T-shirt.
There are approximately 800 tickets left for Game 4. Tickets are on sale on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The box office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Root Sports Northwest airs Games 4 at midnight following the contest and again at 12:30 a.m. Friday.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Brandon, Quenneville 14 (Erkamps, McGauley), 5:17. 2, Seattle, True 3 (Kolesar, Barzal), 12:27 (pp). 3, Seattle, Kolesar 7 (Barzal, Bear), 13:05 (pp). Penalties – Leth, Sea (major-fighting), 4:39. Campbell, Brn (major-fighting), 4:39. Schuldhaus, Sea (holding), 9:15. Quenneville, Brn (high-sticking), 11:37. Provorov, Brn (tripping), 12:04.
Second period – No scoring. Penalties – Ottenbreit, Sea (hooking), 3:51. Mattheos, Brn (high-sticking), 4:43. Clague, Brn (cross checking), 6:41. Volcan, Sea (cross checking),
Third period – 4, Brandon, Quenneville 15 (McGauley, Duke), 8:38. Penalties – Campbell, Brn (checking from behind), 9:28.
Overtime – 5, Brandon, Duke 8 (Wheaton), 2:59. Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 8-10-5-1 24, Brandon 9-12-11-3 35. Goalies – Seattle, Bow 35 shots-32 saves (12-4); Brandon, Papirny 24-22 (15-4). Power plays – Seattle 2-5; Brandon 0-3. A – 6,152. Referees – Derek Zalaski, Chris Crich. Linesmen – Bevan Mills, Mike Roberts.
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