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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Downed in Saskatoon

October 5, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Saskatoon, SK - The Edmonton Oil Kings finished their two-game Saskatchewan road trip with an even 1-1-0-0 record after dropping a 5-3 decision to the Saskatoon Blades at the SaskTel Centre on Wednesday night.

A slow start to the game saw the Oil Kings outshot in the opening 20 minutes by a 14-4 margin, but a strong period from Logan Cunningham between the pipes kept the game scoreless at the first intermission.

Highlighting his 14 first period saves, were two big stops off of Blades forward Brandon Lisowsky on two separate partial breakaways.

In the second period, the Oil Kings came out with some added jump and at the 6:22 mark were able to get the games opening goal. Rilen Kovacevic lugged the puck through the neutral and as he crossed the Saskatoon blueline, dropped it off for Adam Jecho who cut around a Blades defender and then danced the puck past Austin Elliot for his fourth goal of the season.

The Oil Kings would run into penalty trouble shortly after that giving up three straight power plays to the Blades that they were able to capitalize on. Egor Sidrov tied the game at the 8:45 mark by pounding home a one-timer from the right-circle. Shortly after, Brandon Lisowsky elevated a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle to give the Blades a 2-1 lead. Just 24 seconds later, Sidrov cashed in again sifting a shot through a screen from the right-wing circle of the Edmonton zone giving Saskatoon a third straight power play goal and two-goal cushion heading to the third period.

In the third period, the Oil Kings would claw their way back to level footing with Kovacevic converting on a breakaway 5:22 into the third period after taking a perfectly placed area feed from Aidan Litke in the neutral zone. With just over nine minutes left in the game, Litke tied the game after hustling onto his own rebound at the side of the Saskatoon net and banking in a shot off the backside of Elliott.

Less than three minutes later though, the Blades restored their lead after Lisowsky drilled in a slapshot from just inside the Edmonton blueline through a crowd of bodies. Lisowsky then completed his hat-trick a short-time later with an empty net marker.

Cunningham finished the night making 31 saves, while Elliott stopped 16 shots for the Blades. Edmonton went 0-for-4 on the power play, Saskatoon was 3-for-5.

Next up, the Oil Kings return Rogers Place to kickoff a six-game homestand starting Saturday night against the Prince Albert Raiders at 7:00 PM

The Edmonton Oil Kings next home game is Friday, October 7 at 7:00 P.M. when they take on the Prince Albert Raiders at Rogers Place.

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 October 5, 2023


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