TALKING POINTS
Well, the third period, which has been so kind to Everett so far this season, pulled the rug out from under the Tips tonight. Just a brutal third period played by Everett as the Tips imploded to the tune of four unanswered Brandon goals. And those wounds were self-inflicted, too, as the tying and go-ahead goals were scored straight off bad Everett turnovers, and the insurance goal was scored on a power play that resulted from a bad penalty. Rasmus Rissanen and Alex Theriau were the culprits on those plays, but it was a team effort (or non-effort) in the third period for the Tips. After tonight I think we can put talk of Everett being a third-period team on hold for a while.
Can’t fault Tips goaltender Kent Simpson for Brandon’s goals in this one. I thought Simpson played well, making some big-time saves. But special teams once again weren’t so special for the Tips. Everett allowed two power-play goals and a shortie, and the Tips didn’t come close to capitalizing when Brandon took three penalties in a span of 1:12 late in the first period.
The Tips played without overage center Chris Langkow, who sustained an upper-body injury Friday night in Vancouver. Langkow took the warm-up, but did not play.
As for Brandon, I’m not sure I saw a Memorial Cup-caliber team out there tonight. What I did see were two dynamite lines that are definitely Memorial Cup worthy. The big question for the Wheat Kings is whether they can develop the necessary depth to be a Cup contender.
TURNING POINT
Despite Everett’s bad play in the third period, the Tips had a golden opportunity to tie it back up at 3-3 with six minutes remaining. However, Tips leading goal scorer Tyler Maxwell somehow missed an open net when set up by Paul Sohor in transition.
HIT OF THE DAY
Late in the first period Brandon’s Matt Calvert lined up Radko Gudas and hammered him into the wall, prompting Theriau to instigate a fight with Calvert.
THREE STARS
First star: Calvert. One goal and was an absolute fireball. On a team with lots of offensive stars, he was head and shoulders above the rest tonight.
Second star: Gudas. One assist and laid out so many big hits the Wheat Kings were targeting him the entire game.
Third star: Jay Fehr, Brandon. Two goals and an assist as he was in on all three of Brandon’s special-teams goals.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Aaron Lewadniuk, Brandon. Two assists and played feisty.
BOX SCORE
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