Wheat Kings deny T-Birds in OT | Game 1, WHL Finals

The Brandon Wheat Kings defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in overtime Friday night in Game 1 of the WHL championship series at the Westman Place in Brandon, Manitoba.

Game 2 of the WHL championship series is Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Westman Place.

Tanner Kaspick scored the overtime game-winning goal at 6:22 of the extra period. A Brandon shot deflected off the glass behind Seattle goalie Landon Bow and flew back toward the Seattle net. Kaspick knocked the puck out of mid air and into net.

Brandon took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Reid Duke at 17:32 of the first period. Tim McGauley had the only assist on the goal.

Seattle outshot Brandon 15-6 in the first period.

The T-Birds tied the game 1-1 with a shorthanded goal by Donovan Neuls at 8:55 of the second period. Alexander True fed the puck from the Seattle zone to Neuls on the right wing. Neuls came into the zone on a two-on-one with True. Neuls attempted to pass the puck to True but a Wheat King defenseman knocked the puck down. Neuls got the loose puck and skated through the low slot. Brandon goalie Jordan Papirny went down to try and stop Neuls, who skated to the goalie’s right, waited him out and put it into the net.

The T-Birds outshot the Wheat Kings 12-11 in the second period and led 27-15 in shots after two periods.

Ryan Gropp gave the T-Birds a 2-1 lead 28 seconds into the third period with power-play goal. Keegan Kolesar passed the puck to Gropp coming down the left wing with speed. Gropp cut around the defenseman, through the low slot and put the puck through Papirny’s legs.

Brandon tied the game 2-2 on a goal from Nolan Patrick at 4:50 of the third period. Patrick put back a rebound from a Mitch Wheaton shot. Jayce Hawryluk had the second assist.

The Wheat Kings outshot the T-Birds 17-6 in the third period and 42-33 in the game.

Bow had 39 saves on 42 shots.

Papirny had 30 saves on 32 shots.

WHL championship schedule

Game 1 – At Brandon 3, Seattle 2, OT
Game 2 – Saturday, May 7 at Brandon, 5:30 p.m.
Game 3 – Tuesday, May 10 at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
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
(all time PST)

Tickets, TV and promotions

Root Sports Northwest will air Games 2, 3 and 4 of the series on a tape delay this week. Game 2 will be shown at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, and Game 3 will broadcast at 1:30 a.m. following the game. Game 4 will be shown at midnight following the game and again at 12:30 a.m. the next day, Friday, May 13.

The T-Birds host Games 3, 4 and 5 of the series. Game 3, a Directors Mortgage 2-for-Tuesday game, is officially sold out.

Game 4 is a White Out Wednesday game on May 11. The first 5,000 fans at Game 4 will receive a special, limited edition free T-Birds white T-shirt.

There are approximately 1,300 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 Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Brandon, Duke 7 (McGauley), 17:32 (pp). Penalties – Thomson, Brn (slashing), 12:14. Ottenbreit, Sea (interference), 16:15.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Neuls 3 (True), 8:55 (sh). Penalties – Hawryluk, Brn (roughing), :43. Hauf, Sea (hooking), 7:39. Lewis, Brn (high-sticking), 9:58. Ottenbreit, Sea (holding), 14:22. Eansor, Sea (high-sticking), 16:16.

Third period – 3, Seattle, Gropp 4 (Kolesar, Bear),:28. 4, Brandon, Patrick 11 (Wheaton, Hawryluk), 4:50. Penalties – Provorov, Brn (tripping), :09. McGauley, Brn (tripping), 13:29. Bow, Sea (tripping-served by True), 13:42.

Overtime – 5, Brandon, Kaspick 5 (Campbell), 6:22. Penalties – No penalties.

Shots on goal – Seattle 15-12-6-0 32, Brandon 6-9-17-10 42. Goalies – Seattle, Bow 42 shots-39 saves (12-2); Brandon, Papirny 32-30 (13-4). Power plays – Seattle 1-5; Brandon 1-5. A – 5,610. Referees – Chris Schlenker, Jeff Ingram. Linesmen – Kelsey Mahoney, Scott Sharun.