WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Come Back over Hitmen

March 8, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


EDMONTON, ALTA. - In the second period Saturday night against the Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings forward Davis Koch left the game after a dangerous hit from behind. In the third, the youngest member of the Oil Kings as poking the puck past a sprawled Brendan Burke to complete a come-from behind victory for the Oil Kings.

"It was a pretty big goal; right place at the right time I think," said Koch. "I just wanted to come back and compete."

Edmonton (31-29-4-3) scored twice in the third period to defeat the Hitmen (40-21-1-4) 3-2 in front of 10,958 at Rexall Place, lifted by Koch's game winner with 2:36 left on the clock.

"We were dicing up the lines," said Oil Kings head coach Steve Hamilton. "I don't even know what the scenario was that Davis got out on the ice or who he was with, but it was great patience, and a good skill play around the net."

Calgary scored power play markers in both the first and second periods to build a 2-1 lead after forty minutes, but Lane Bauer deflected Ben Carroll's point shot past Burke 1:45 into the final frame, and Koch delivered on a scramble in front after Blake Orban drove wide around the Calgary net and centred the puck as the Oil Kings completed the comeback to pick up a big two points over the division leaders.

"For us, we knew we were going to have to dig deep and really play a tight game," Hamilton said. "I love the energy tonight. You could see this was an important win; you could feel it."

"This is a good team, so you know if they get a couple you can't get down on yourselves," Dysin Mayo said. "We needed these two points."

Tristan Jarry was phenomenal in the Edmonton net, making 28 saves for the victory - many of the highlight-reel variety -- as Calgary outshot the Oil Kings 30-27.

"Our goaltender was our best player tonight," Hamilton said. "He made some absolute prime saves at some key times. If you're going to beat a top-ranked team like that, you're going to have to have great goaltending, and Tristan provided that."

Dysin Mayo also scored for Edmonton, capping a two-point night, while Brett Pollock picked up an assist to extend his point streak to eight games.

With the win, the Oil Kings stay six points ahead of the Moose Jaw Warriors in the race for the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. Edmonton also moved within a single point of the Kootenay Ice for the first wildcard spot. Both Kootenay and Moose Jaw have a game in hand on the Oil Kings.

Edmonton is back in action Tuesday night as they wrap up a three-game home stand against the Saskatoon Blades at Rexall Place.

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