If the “Hockey Gods” giveth and taketh away, the Saskatoon Blades and Brandon Wheat Kings each experienced one of both…with the Blue and Gold getting the favour of the last break in a 3-2 triumph Friday night.
Gary Haden was credited for the winning goal with 4.1 seconds left in the third period. His deflection of a Josh Paterson shot was stopped by Brandon goalie Ethan Kruger’s right pad. But, the rebound glanced off the skate of Cole Reinhardt and into the Wheat Kings’ net, giving the Bridge City Bunch their fourth consecutive win in at SaskTel Centre.
“No, I can’t remember anyone like that,” said Haden when asked if he had ever scored a game-winning goal, kicked in by an opponent. “It was kind of crazy…I didn’t really realize it until I looked up at the clock after we scored and saw that there was only four seconds left. I just kind of shook my head and said, ‘wow!'”
The Blue and Gold had a third goal disallowed in the dying seconds of the first period. On a 5-on-3 power play, Haden set up Kirby Dach on the doorstep for a slam-dunk style of goal. But, the officials waved it off, calling Haden for goaltender interference…even though he was dumped into netminder Kruger by Wheaties’ forward Connor Gutenberg…a call that angered the Blades and most of the 3,219 fans.
Paterson and Brandon Machado staked Saskatoon to a 2-1 lead in the first period after Ridly Greig opened the scoring for Brandon. Linden McCorrister tied the score in the second period, while the Wheat Kings were short-handed. The Wheaties held a large edge in territorial play in the third period, only to be denied on all 18 of their shots on goal by Bridge City Bunch goaltender Nolan Maier. Brandon ended up out-shooting the Blue and Gold 35-22.
The same teams meet Saturday at Westoba Credit Union Place in the final game before the Christmas break for both teams. The 21-10-3 Blades moved 11 points ahead of the 14-10-6 Wheat Kings, who hold four games in hand on Saskatoon. Game time is 7:30 with the broadcast starting at 6:30 on 98-COOL with the Sardinia Family Restaurant pre-game show. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Brandon Wheat Kings 2 at Saskatoon Blades 3 – Status: Final
Friday, December 14, 2018 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Brandon 1 1 0 – 2
Saskatoon 2 0 1 – 3
1st Period-1, Brandon, Greig 7 (McCartney), 5:17. 2, Saskatoon, Machado 2 (Davidson, Huber), 8:39. 3, Saskatoon, Paterson 10 (Kneen, Schuldhaus), 15:51. Penalties-Hartje Bdn (hooking), 18:33; Mattheos Bdn (high sticking), 19:12; Haden Sas (inter. on goaltender, misconduct – mouthguard), 19:58.
2nd Period-4, Brandon, McCorrister 11 (McCartney), 17:19 (SH). Penalties-Kaddoura Sas (delay of game), 8:57; Hartje Bdn (high sticking), 15:48.
3rd Period-5, Saskatoon, Haden 13 (Paterson, Wouters), 19:55. Penalties-Ritchie Bdn (inter. on goaltender), 3:02; served by Thorpe Bdn (too many men), 8:39.
Shots on Goal-Brandon 6-11-18-35. Saskatoon 9-8-5-22.
Power Play Opportunities-Brandon 0 / 2; Saskatoon 0 / 5.
Goalies-Brandon, Kruger 3-2-1-1 (22 shots-19 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 17-8-2-0 (35 shots-33 saves).
A-3,219
Referees-Sean Raphael (28), Kyle Scrivens (77).
Linesmen-Aiden Penner (109), Levi Schutz (110).
