WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings' Comeback Falls Short Against Brandon

November 22, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings were edged 5-3 by the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday night at Rogers Place.

The Wheat Kings got off to a hot start scoring four times in the opening 20 minutes to put the Oil Kings in a 4-1 deficit after 20 minutes of play.

Brandon captain Nate Danielson opened the scoring just under five minutes in after he was able to a steal a puck in behind the Edmonton net and bank it in off of Logan Cunningham for the game's icebreaker.

Just 1:16 later the Oil Kings got back to level footing after Roan Woodward whacked home a loose puck at the top of the Brandon crease after a point-shot from Reid Larson was blocked. The goal was Woodward's third of the season.

Danielson restored the Wheaties lead less than three minutes later with his second of the night after he picked the top right corner of the Edmonton net from the left-circle faceoff dot.

Charlie Elick made it a 3-1 lead for the visitors with 5:59 left in the period as he pinballed in a shot from the blueline.

Elick tacked on his second of the night with 2:00 left in the frame after taking a pass in the slot from Danielson and whipping it into the back of the Edmonton net.

The second period was a much better stanza for the Oil Kings as they outshot the Wheat Kings 15-9 and outscored them 2-1 to get to a 5-3 deficit after 40 minutes of play.

Midway through the second period, Skyler Bruce bought Edmonton to within two goals with his eighth of the season after he cleaned up a rebound in the crease of the Wheat Kings on an Oil Kings power play after Marc Lajoie ripped a shot through Brandon goaltender Carson Bjarnason.

The Wheat Kings responded just under five minutes later after Andrei Maliavin spotted Nolan Flamand open in front of the Edmonton net with a pass that he deposited into the top corner.

Before the period was out, the Oil Kings power play connected once again to get back to within two after Gavin Hodnett lasered a shot over the left pad of Bjarnason from the left-circle for his third goal in as many games.

In the third period, the Oil Kings looked to draw to within one less than two minutes in after Mason Finley deposited a loose puck in front of the Brandon net only to have the goal reviewed and overturned for goaltender interference.

The Oil Kings fired eight more pucks the way of Bjarnason in the third but could not solve him again falling by a 5-3 margin.

Kolby Hay came into the game at the start of the second period for the Oil Kings and stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced in relief of Cunningham, while Bjarnason finished up with 27 saves. Edmonton went 2-for-4 on the power play, Brandon was 0-for-4.

Next up, the Oil Kings play host to the Regina Pats at Rogers Place this Friday, November 24 at 7:00 P.M.

The Edmonton Oil Kings next home game is Friday, November 24 when they welcome the Regina Pats to Rogers Place at 7:00 P.M.

The Oil Kings are Edmonton's first choice for family fun with great seats starting at $20 and season seats for as low as $9 per-game for an entire season of thrilling WHL action!

Head to OilKings.ca to secure your seat today!

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2023


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