WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Post Christmas Schedule Starts With A Point Versus Moose Jaw

Published on December 27, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings broken up 7 game home stand is finally over. They rallied from a pair of one goal deficits to force overtime against Moose Jaw only to lose to the Warriors in a shootout at Rexall Place Saturday night in front of the second largest crowd of the season. The holiday crowd of over 7 thousand was treated to an entertaining game that was tight from start to finish. Defenseman Chad Suer ended the game on a sour note for the home team as the Warriors skated out of town with a 4 - 3 victory.

"There were some close ones tonight and I thought it was a good hockey game." commented Oil Kings Head Coach Steve Pleau. "I don't know who it was for them that hit the post in the shootout and I think we hit two posts. I thought it was a hard fought game both ways. Their record is not great but they're a better team than that record dictates, they've got some pretty good guys back there and it was a good point."

You'd think this game would've had a slow start with both teams coming off the long Christmas break but that wasn't the case at all with lots of action in the opening 20 minutes.

The Oil Kings drew the first penalty but it was Moose Jaw that almost opened the scoring shorthanded. The Warriors were aggressive on the penalty kill and a puck that was directed at the net was re-directed off Brent Raedeke's skate in his own crease and almost went into his own net. The crisis was averted and the powerplay went to work at the other end.

Brandon Lockerby was the quarterback right in the middle of the ice. He slid the puck over to the right wing boards where Brett Breitkreuz was waiting for the big one-timer on his off-wing. He made the perfect shot with Shayne Neigum providing the screen in front. The shot went off Neigum's shin pad and in to open the scoring.

Edmonton came close midway through the period on their second powerplay of the game. This time it was Adrian Van de Mosselaer with the big shot from the point. Warriors netminder Deven Dubyk flashed the leather but he didn't catch the puck. It rang off the crossbar but didn't cross the line so Edmonton carried the 1 nothing lead into the first intermission.

The Warriors came out strong in the second period and gained some of the momentum thanks to an early powerplay. Ian Duval fired a shot on goal that Torrie Jung was able to stop. Brent Raedeke tried to clear the rebound but it bounced right off the stick of Joel Broda and in. Defenseman Chad Suer was also pinching into the play creating lots of havoc. That tied the game at one.

The Warriors would grab their first lead of the game just under 2 minutes later. The Oil Kings defense got crossed up behind their own net and turned the puck over to Edmonton native Brian Sommers. He found Corey Scott set up in the high slot for a quick shot that snuck through the legs of Torrie Jung and in. Scott's second of the season made it 2 - 1.

"You're going to take penalties but you've just got to be able to kill them." explained Steve Pleau. "I thought that's where we lost our momentum. They were able to just bang, bang, bang and when they scored two straight and all of a sudden we're down 2 - 1 and I thought that was the disappointing part for me."

Edmonton tied it up with a terrific play. Brandon Lockerby had the heads up, long lead pass from blue line to blue line for a streaking Shayne Neigum. The Kindersley, Saskatchewan native made a nice play to pick up the pass on his backhand and then absolutely wired a slap shot that beat Deven Dubyk top shelf to the glove side. Neigum's 5th of the year tied the game at 2.

" I thought I was going to get run over by a 'd' man." described Neigum. "I saw an opening and I saw the 'd' man coming in on me so I just teed it up and went far side. It went in for me so I'll take it. Locks is a hell of a player. That's one of his strengths is those long breakaway passes and he has great vision. I came right off the bench and he must have seen me sneak behind the 'd' and he put it right on my tape.

You sure couldn't tell that the Warriors entered the game with the league's worst powerplay. They moved the puck well with the man advantage and scored again before the second period was over. Travis Hamonic's point shot was tipped neatly by disturber Ryley Grantham in front. The Warriors had the 3 - 2 lead with 20 minutes to play.

20 year old Grantham has been a thorn in the side of the Oil Kings this season and he was up to his antics again. His 5th and 6th penalties of the game came at the same time giving the Oil Kings an extended powerplay which ultimately lead to the tying goal. Brent Raedeke lead a rush up the left wing and eventually let Robin Soudek take over. His shot on goal ended up going through the crease to Brenden Dowd on the doorstep. Dowd had a wide open net for his 14th of the season. The dumb penalty allowed Edmonton to tie the game at 3.

The Oil Kings had a glorious chance to end the game in regulation time with just under 4 minutes to go. Craig McCallum had a burst of speed right up the middle of the ice and burned by Warriors defenseman Ryan Stanton and beat Moose Jaw goalie Deven Dubyk but he rang it off the post setting up the dramatics for overtime and eventually the shootout.

The Oil Kings shooters came up empty. Brenden Dowd tried his move to the backhand where he tucks the puck 5 hole but that didn't work. Robin Soudek lost the handle and didn't get a shot. T.J. Foster made a nice move to the backhand but couldn't beat Dubyk. Brent Raedeke's shot up high was also stopped.

Ian Duval almost won it for the Warriors with a backhand that beat Jung but hit the post and finally, the only player to score in the showdown was defenseman Chad Suer who's backhand rang off the post and in top shelf.

Edmonton's record is 15-19-2-4 and they pick up a valuable point in the standings as they trail the Lethbridge Hurricanes by 6 points for the 8th and final playoff spot in the WHL's Eastern Conference. That sets up a huge game tomorrow night when the Oil Kings visit the Hurricanes. You can catch that game on WHL Web TV which happens to be free league wide for December 28th and 29th. The next home game for the Oil Kings will be on Wednesday when they return to Rexall Place for a New Year's Eve bash against the Calgary Hitmen. That game starts at 5 with Louie's fireworks to follow.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2008


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