WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings big effort falls short against Swift Current

Published on March 6, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - For the second time in a one-week span the Swift Current Broncos took a bite out of the Oil Kings as they try to set their sights on their first ever playoff berth.

Broncos forward Dillon Wagner scored the game winner at the 2:16 mark of the third period and Travis Yonkman (25-14-0-1) made 34 saves as the Broncos skated to a tight 3-1 win over Edmonton in front of 10,136 fans at Rexall Place Friday night.

Cody Eakin and Geordie Wudrick scored the Broncos other goals, while Jeff Lee tallied the lone Oil Kings marker.

"I thought we played hard and we did a lot of good things, and with our hockey club it's going to be a grind, we know that," said Oil Kings head coach Steve Pleau.

"I thought you saw some nerves in the beginning of the game, we were tight, but our captain (Jeff Lee) got us out of that little rut. From that point on, we dominated the hockey game, we just couldn't score."

Eakin gave the Broncos a 1-0 lead after the first period when Cody Eakin made the most of a second opportunity on his shift. After getting robbed by Torrie Jung (18-18-3-5) earlier in the shift, Eakin got the puck and walked into the slot and let a blast go with 1:55 left in the opening period.

Lee's goal at the 10:03 mark of the second period was a thing of beauty. The 20-year-old took a pass from Oil Kings rookie T.J. Foster and skated up the middle drove down the right wing and powered his way through Broncos veteran defenceman Eric Doyle. Lee waited for Yonkman to make the first move and he lifted the puck over Yonkman and just under the cross bar.

"It was a good goal to get us back in the game, but we just couldn't find a way to pull ahead," said Lee.

"We had some great scoring chances, but sometimes it just doesn't go your way, and sometimes it just doesn't go in."

That goal gave the Oil Kings lots of momentum, but Yonkman came up big making four key stops on Oil Kings chances. Yonkman stoned Oil Kings forward Logan Proulx on two breakaways as well as Oil Kings co-captain Brenden Dowd.

Late in the third period, Craig McCallum missed a golden chance from in the crease, but his shot sailed high.

""We did a lot of good things. We missed some open nets, we missed three breakaways. We have to capitalize on one of those," said Pleau.

Wagner's goal early in the third period was a bullet shot from just outside the face-off circle that flew over the shoulder of Jung and off the right post and in.

Despite finding themselves down a goal, the Oil Kings continued their barrage of shots, but couldn't get that tying marker.

"I didn't think we were deflated. How many times has 'Junger' made big saves for us. At some point if we're a playoff team like we claim to be, you've got to find a way to get one for him and we didn't do it tonight," said Pleau.

"We still have plenty of opportunity, we still control our own destiny and we still can draw a lot of positives."

The Oil Kings missed a chance to move up on the Prince Albert Raiders in the very tight playoff race in the WHL's Eastern Conference. Their record drops to 27-32-4-5, good for 63 points in the Eastern Conference. With Prince Albert's 5-4 loss Friday night to the Saskatoon Blades, the Oil Kings still hold the final playoff spot.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2009


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