Oil Kings Drop First Game in Saskatoon to Blades
WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Drop First Game in Saskatoon to Blades

Published on April 1, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Saskatoon, Sask. - The Edmonton Oil Kings are behind two games to one in their first round WHL playoff series with the Saskatoon Blades after falling 4-3 on Tuesday night.

The game was an exciting one on of the ice as the clubs played their third straight one goal game of the series.

Through 40 minutes of this one, each team seemingly dominated one period.

In the first, it was the Blades period as they outshot the Oil Kings 14-5 and were up 1-0 off a David Lewandowski powerplay goal.

However, the Oil Kings came back firing in the second as they scored three times in the first 6:26 of the frame as Noa Ta'amu scored in the first minute, followed by Ryan Gower's first career WHL goal about two minutes later. Miroslav Holinka gave the Oil Kings the 3-1 lead with a deflected Rhys Pederson shot, and all of a sudden, the Oil Kings had momentum, and at one point were outshooting the Blades 11-1 in the period. Ultimately it was 17-5 in the period in favour of Edmonton as the Blades would get a goal back from Rowan Calvery with under three minutes to play in the second.

In the third though, the Blades would storm back and score two more to retake the lead and hold on. Tyler Parr and Tristen Doyle scored for the Blades in the frame as the Oil Kings were outshot 14-4 in the period and 33-26 overall.

The Oil Kings were 0-for-2 on the powerplay, and the penalty kill was 3-for-5.

Game four of the series goes on Wednesday back in Saskatoon.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2026


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