Oil Kings Come up Big over Hitmen
Published on November 8, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release
EDMONTON, ALTA. - The Edmonton Oil Kings came up with the big play when they needed it.
Brett Pollock scored a power-play goal with 2:46 to play to put the Oil Kings (7-9-3-0) up 3-2, and Patrick Dea made a game-saving glove save on the next shift to keep it that way as the Oil Kings swept a home-and-home series with the Calgary Hitmen (9-10-1-0) with a 3-2 victory Friday night at Rexall Place, giving Edmonton three wins in a row.
In what was not always the prettiest game, the Oil Kings and Hitmen entered the third period tied 1-1 on goals by Radel Fazleev and Lane Bauer. Beck Malenstyn broke the tie for the Hitmen 7:03 into the third, wheeling around the Edmonton goal and firing a high wrist shot from the circle that beat Dea. However, Kobe Mohr tied it just 22 seconds later for the Oil Kings as he played a puck off the end boards into a wide open net for his first career WHL goal.
"Throughout the whole room, we were calm and collected when we got down a goal, and I think we responded well," Pollock said. "Mohrsy with a huge goal to make it 2-2, and then the power play came through when we needed it the most."
After Dysin Mayo was slashed with just under four minutes left in regulation, the Oil Kings power play went to work and a minute into the game, Pollock found the winner with a snipe from the top of the right circle, redeeming an otherwise subpar night for an Edmonton power play that finished 1-5.
"That was huge. Our power play was pretty subpar throughout the whole game. We were struggling quite a bit, and to get that at the end to be the game winner, that was huge for us," Mayo said.
"I guess they're coming at the right time," Pollock added. "I've been getting a lot of chances every game, and I guess capitalizing on the right ones."
On the next shift, Calgary had a glorious chance to tie the game, but Patrick Dea sprawled post-to-post and robbed Jakob Stukel with an outstanding glove save to keep the Oil Kings ahead.
"That was unbelievable. Patty tracked it so well," Hamilton said. "Disappointing that after we score a bug goal like that that our follow-up shift was so casual that it required a save like that to save the game, but Patty's a battler, and I think you see his confidence going through the roof."
"That's the kind of save you see in practice when you're joking around after," Pollock added. "To see him pull it off in a game, and at the time that he did, it's incredible."
Bauer finished with a goal and an assist to lead the Edmonton offence, while Dea finished with 19 saves. Cody Porter stopped 20 shots, taking the loss in the Calgary net.
The Oil Kings will now head to B.C. for a six-game road trip while the rodeo takes over Rexall Place. They'll kick that off with back-to-back games Friday and Saturday in Prince George.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2015
- Raiders Add Ty Mappin - Prince Albert Raiders
- Dube to Miss Canada Russia Series - Kelowna Rockets
- Blazers' Shirley and Sideroff Added to Team WHL - WHL
- Five WHL Players Win Under-17 Gold - WHL
- Five WHL Players Win Under-17 Gold - Kelowna Rockets
- Rockets' Merkley Named Team WHL Alternate Captain - WHL
- Broncos Bust up Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blades Defeat Rebels 4-2 - Red Deer Rebels
- Blazers Win 5th in a Row 5-2 over Cougars - Kamloops Blazers
- Everett victorious over Giants - Everett Silvertips
- Spokane Cruises Past Tri-City - Tri-City Americans
- Thomas Scores Twice in Loss to Everett - Vancouver Giants
- Rockets Come back for 8-5 Win; Take Two in Portland - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Fall to Seattle 5-2 Saturday - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings Come up Big over Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- T-Birds Tame Tigers - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Kelowna wins 8-5 - Kelowna Rockets
- Winterhawks Fall 8-5 to Kelowna Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Home Losing Streaked Finally Snapped - Saskatoon Blades
- Oil Kings sweep Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Pats lose 6-1 - Regina Pats
- Royals Down Pats - Victoria Royals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
