HIGHLIGHTS:

There have been many great games in the Big Six Hockey League already this season. But in a heavyweight tilt between the top two teams in the standings after the first month of the year, Sunday night's marquee matchup between the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings and Carnduff Red Devils exceeded the hype in a classic at the Fast Centennial Arena.

65 minutes of play wouldn't be enough to decide the game, and it wasn't until Shawn Gallant's shootout winner in the third round of the competition that a winner would be decided as Carnduff defeated Yellow Grass 6-5.

Both teams entered the game on respective 5-game winning streaks, and they both played like it throughout a fast and physical game as heard on CJ1150.

Carnduff opened the scoring just 26 seconds into the game as Devon Carriere deflected his 4th goal of the season past Wheat Kings' netminder Tanner Erickson to give the Red Devils an early 1-0 lead. Carnduff would get a chance to extend the early lead following a 5-minute boarding major by Yellow Grass forward Reid Paterson, but were unable to convert on the man advantage.

Shortly thereafter, the Wheat Kings would convert on a powerplay of their own as Brendan Vertefeuille continued his hot play by potting his 8th goal of the season to make it 1-1 after the 1st period. 

Brendan Vertefeuille (#16) Beats A Sprawling Adrian Rubeniuk.

Carnduff would start the middle frame on a powerplay, but it would be Yellow Grass taking the lead to start the 2nd period. Justin Richter stepped over the blueline and fired a perfect wrist shot over the pad and under the blocker of Carnduff's Adrian Rubeniuk to put the Wheat Kings ahead 2-1. Vertefeuille finished off a rebound from a Troy Miller shot a short time later for his second goal of the game to put Yellow Grass up 3-1.

Vertefeuille just missed his hat trick minutes later, deflecting a pass from Miller off the crossbar. On the play, Miller was hit into the end boards by Carnduff captain Kody Martin. Martin was given a 5-minute major for boarding, just like Paterson the period before. And once again, though this time for Yellow Grass, the powerplay would be unable to capitalize.

A key moment in the game happened with just 30 seconds left in the 2nd period. The Wheat Kings sent an ill-advised pass across their own blueline that was picked off by Mark Moriarty, who stepped into the slot and snapped his 7th of the season past Erickson's glove to get Carnduff to within a goal before the intermission.

Yellow Grass earned a powerplay to start the 3rd period leading 3-2, but just like the Wheat Kings did the previous period, the Red Devils would execute while shorthanded. Trevor Geiger rushed down the wing and took a snapshot that was stopped by Erickson. However, the puck bounced high in the air and was going to land in the Yellow Grass crease. Before it did, Erickson slid back towards his net not knowing where the puck was. As it came down, it deflected off Erickson and into the back of the net for Geiger's 2nd goal of the season, tying the game at 3-3. 

A Scrum Involving All 10 Skaters Ended The 2nd Period.

Carnduff would take their first lead since the 1st period minutes later, as Geiger found Matt Audette free in front of the net and Audette picked the bottom corner for his team-leading 10th goal of the season to put the Red Devils up 4-3.

Yellow Grass would respond, as Corey Koski glided across the slot and shot across his body to pick the glove-side corner past Rubeniuk. Koski's 11th of the season tied the game at 4-4.

The two teams exchanged goals one more time, as Carriere pinballed his second of the game past Erickson to put Carnduff back ahead 5-4, only to have Koski snipe his second of the game a short time later to even the score at 5-5.

Regulation wouldn't be enough to settle the game as the teams skated into overtime. In the extra frame, Yellow Grass would start the period with a 4-on-3 powerplay. That was nullified quickly after Carnduff's Blake McMillan drew a penalty from Richter. After a brief 3-on-3, the Red Devils went to a short powerplay and were unable to score. After a few minutes of 4-on-4, Carnduff would take another penalty with a minute to play. However, despite a golden opportunity for Miller near the crease, Yellow Grass could not score before overtime expired and we went to a shootout.

In the breakaway challenge, the shooters remained hot. Both skaters (Richter for Yellow Grass, Geiger for Carnduff) scored in Round 1 and both skaters (Devin Cobbold for Yellow Grass, Audette for Carnduff) scored in Round 2. In the final round, Koski's attempt for Yellow Grass was stopped by Rubeniuk, setting up the chance for Carnduff to win the game.

Shawn Gallant got the tap on the shoulder to take the shot, and didn't disappoint as his slick move beat Erickson to give Carnduff the extra point and a 6-5 shootout win over Yellow Grass.

It's the first victory for Carnduff over Yellow Grass, as the Wheat Kings swept all five games (2 regular season, 3 playoff) last season. 

With the win, Carnduff (9-1) remains on top of the league standings, while Yellow Grass (7-3-1) is in sole possession of 2nd place after earning a point in the loss.

READ MORE: BIG SIX STANDINGS

In the other game on Sunday night, the Bienfait Coalers registered their second straight victory by a score of 14-3, defeating the winless Arcola/Kisbey Combines at Prairie Place. Bienfait also defeated Carlyle by the same score on Saturday night while at home.

UPCOMING GAMES

Tuesday, Dec. 12th

Midale Mustangs (5-3) @ Bienfait Coalers (5-3) - 8pm

Wawota Flyers (3-1-3) @ Arcola/Kisbey Combines (0-8) - 8pm

Wednesday, Dec. 13th

Carlyle Cougars (1-10) @ Redvers Rockets (7-4) - 8pm - CJ1150 BROADCAST