Remember the Brandon Wheat Kings? They’re back in the Saskatoon Blades’ “rear view mirror” after the Wheaties nipped the Bridge City Bunch 2-1 Saturday before 3,983 fans at SaskTel Centre.

Nate Danielson scored a power play goal at 2:46 of the second period to break a 1-1 tie and that stood up as the margin of victory for Brandon. After losing six straight games during the mid-to-late portion of March, the Wheat Kings have followed up with four wins in their last five outings to improve to 32-25-5 for the season for 69 points, five back of the fifth place, 35-25-4 Bridge City Bunch in the Eastern Conference. Josh Pillar opened the scoring for the Blue and Gold but, with both teams playing their third game in four nights, a ragged opening period was followed by the Blades taking four consecutive penalties to start the second frame with the Wheaties taking advantage to take the lead. Brandon wasn’t assessed a penalty until less than four minutes remained in the third period. Saskatoon got four power play chances, including a pair of two-man advantages that they turned into six skater-on-three situations by pulling goaltender Nolan Maier, but couldn’t break through for the equalizing goal. Meantime, Moose Jaw scored late in the third period to break a 1-1 tie and upended Winnipeg, and their 13-game winning streak, 3-1. That moves the Warriors three points clear of the Blades for fourth place. Saskatoon plays three of their remaining four games this coming week, beginning with a Tuesday visit to Medicine Hat. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..

Brandon Wheat Kings 2 at Saskatoon Blades 1 – Status: Final
Saturday, April 2, 2022 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK

Brandon 1 1 0 – 2
Saskatoon 1 0 0 – 1

1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Pillar 13 (Watterodt, Molendyk), 4:25. 2, Brandon, Roberts 8 (Danielson), 10:29. Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-3, Brandon, Danielson 21 (Ritchie, Nychuk), 2:46 (PP). Penalties-Paulhus Sas (holding), 2:39; Crnkovic Sas (tripping), 3:56; Saunderson Sas (high sticking, high sticking), 4:41; Pillar Sas (checking from behind), 19:58.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Polshakov Bdn (interference), 16:09; Danielson Bdn (high sticking, high sticking), 17:56; Hyland Bdn (slashing), 19:26.

Shots on Goal-Brandon 9-19-3-31. Saskatoon 8-4-11-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Brandon 1 / 5; Saskatoon 0 / 4.
Goalies-Brandon, Kruger 25-15-2-2 (23 shots-22 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 28-22-3-1 (31 shots-29 saves).
A-3,983
Referees-Fraser Lawrence (10), Brody McGrath (73).
Linesmen-Aiden Penner (109), Andrew Sawatsky (123).