BRANDON, Man. – Ben Carroll and Jesse Roach scored just over three minutes apart in a three-goal third period on Thursday as the Edmonton Oil Kings rallied past the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-2 in Game 1 of their first round Western Hockey League playoff series.
Brandon Baddock also found the back of the net in the third for Edmonton, which squeaked into the post-season with a tiebreaker win over the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday. Andrew Koep had a goal in the first.
Reid Duke opened the scoring nine seconds into the first period and Nolan Patrick added another before the end of the period for the Wheat Kings. Brandon entered the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Payton Lee made 39 saves for the win. Jordan Papirny kicked out 25-of-29 shots in defeat.
The Oil Kings were scoreless on their lone power-play opportunity while Brandon was 0 for 3.