Wheat Kings drop Thunderbirds, 5-3

The Brandon Wheat Kings defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-3 Tuesday night at Westman Place in Brandon, Manitoba.

Seattle was down two goals entering the third period and battled through the period. They got to within one goal and outshot the Wheat Kings 22-6 in the period but could not get the tying goal. Seattle goalie Brandon Glover was pulled for an extra attacker late in the period but it did not pay off as the Wheat Kings scored an empty-net goal to seal the win.

This was the T-Birds fourth game of a seven-game road trip. The T-Birds play the Regina Pats on at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Brandt Centre. They finish out the seven-game road trip against the Prince Albert Raiders at 5 p.m. Friday at the Art Hauser Centre and against the Saskatoon Blades at 5:05 p.m. Saturday at the Credit Union Centre.

Brandon (9-7-2-1) took a 1-0 lead at 6:04 of the first period when Jens Meilleur scored. Alessio Bertaggia and Hunter had the assists.

The Wheat Kings struck again just less than a minute and a half later when Tyrel Seaman scored. The assists were credited to Jason Swyripa and Nick Buonassisi.

Both teams had nine shots on goal in the first period.

John Quenneville gave the Wheat Kings a 3-0 lead at 3:37 of the second period. Tyler Yaworski and Ryan Pulock had the assists.

Seattle (8-8-1-0) got on the board at 8:55 of the second on a power-play goal from Riley Sheen. Jerret Smith got the puck Jesse Forsberg at center ice inside the blue line. Forsberg took a shot that missed the net, hit the end boards and came to Sheen at the bottom of the right circle. Sheen put the rebound on net and beat Brandon goalie Curtis Honey over the left shoulder for the goal.

The Wheat Kings took the three-goal lead back at 12:09 of the second when Eric Roy scored. Bertaggia and Chad Robinson had the assists.

The T-Birds scored with one second left in the second period to cut the Brandon lead to two goals. Roberts Lipsbergs won a faceoff back to Forsberg at the right point. Forsberg skated to his left and put a wrist shot on goal. Honey made the save but Lockhart was in front of the net to poke the rebound under the goalie.

Seattle outshot Brandon 10-8 in the second period and led 19-17 in shots after two periods.

Connor Sanvido cut the Wheat Kings lead to one goal at 4:27 of third period. Sanvido beat Honey with a snap shot from the right circle for his fourth goal of the year. Brendan Rouse and Lipsbergs had the assists.

Seattle outshot Brandon 22-6 in the third period and 41-23 in the game.

Glover stopped 19 of 23 shots and his record is now 7-6-1-0.

Honey made 38 saves on 41 shots and his record is 2-1-1-1.

T-Birds single game tickets for the season are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

T-Birds season tickets are on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Brandon, Meilleur 5 (Bertaggia, Hunter), 6:04. 2, Brandon, Seaman 3 (Swyripa, Buonassisi), 7:30. Missed Penalty Shot – Meilleur, Brn, 14:26. Penalties – Waltz, Brn (roughing), 9:54, Hunter, Brn (slashing), 17:29.

Second period – 3, Brandon, Quenneville 2 (Yaworski, Pulock), 3:37 4, Seattle, Sheen 5 (Forsberg, Smith), 8:55 (pp). 5, Brandon, Roy 4 (Bertaggia, Robinson), 12:09.6, Seattle, Lockhart 7 (Forsberg, Lipsbergs), 19:59. Penalties – Miller, Brn (interference), 8:29. Hauf, Sea (closing hand on puck), 14:40. Yaworski, Brn (kneeing), 17:51.

Third period – 7, Seattle, Sanvido 4 (Rouse, Lipsbergs), 4:27. 8, Brandon, Bertaggia 11 (Pulock), 18:55 (en). Penalties – Buonassisi, Brn (roughing), 8:12. Hauf, Sea (major-interference, game misconduct), 19:15.

Shots on goal – Seattle 9-10-22 41, Brandon 9-8-6 23. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 23 shots-19 saves (7-6-1-0); Brandon, Honey 41-38 (2-1-1-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-5; Brandon 0-2. A – 3,623. Referee – Brett Montsion. Linesmen – Warren Birch, Andrew Stammers.