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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Dominate Lethbridge to Open Season

February 27, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB -  The Edmonton Oil Kings opened their season with a commanding 7-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday night.

The team's top line of Dylan Guenther, Jake Neighbours and Kaid Oliver combined for a 10-point night with Guenther scoring twice and adding two assists while Neighbours and Oliver each had a goal and two assists.

The Oil Kings wasted no time opening the scoring, just 1:47 into the first period Guenther finished off a beautiful three-way passing play taking a feed from Oliver in the left circle and snapped home a one-timer.  Guenther returned the favor just 45-seconds later, on another powerplay he setup Oliver for his first goal in an Oil King's sweater as he tipped home a net-front pass.  Despite taking three penalties in quick succession late in the opening frame the Oil Kings headed to the intermission with a two-goal edge.

The Hurricanes would make the Oil Kings pay for their late first period indiscretions as just 25-seconds into period two Noah Boyko snapped a shot in from the right-circle through a heavy screen on a power play.  Midway through the middle stanza the Oil Kings restored their two-goal lead with Josh Williams finishing off a tic-tac-toe passing play from Neighbours and Guenther with a net-front tip of his own.  Guenther then extended the lead just over two minutes later by breaking into the Hurricanes zone and snapping a shot over the right arm of Hurricanes goaltender Carl Tetachuk from the right-wing circle for his second goal of the night.

With a 4-1 lead entering the third period the Oil Kings did not let off the gas.  Just 3:48 into the third period, Tyler Horstmann skated onto a loose puck in behind the Hurricanes net and was able to convert a wraparound just inside the near post.  Less than three minutes later, Nieghbours would score his first goal of the season taking a nifty drop pass from Oliver and dancing around a sprawled out Tetachuk, tucking the puck into a wide-open cage.  Rookie Carson Latimer finished off the goal-scoring outburst with 11:31 left in the game as we able to jam home a loose puck in the Hurricanes crease following a juicy rebound from a Jalen Luypen shot.

Sebastian Cossa was his steady self in the Oil Kings crease making 26 saves for his first win of the season.  The Oil Kings also got a strong effort from both their special team units with the power play connecting twice on five opportunities and the penalty kill yielding just one goal against on eight Hurricane chances.

The Oil Kings are back at it Saturday night down in Lethbridge as they tangle with the Hurricanes again at 6:00 PM.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2021


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