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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Drop Hard-Fought Opener 5-3

March 26, 2011 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Red Deer, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings found themselves on the losing end of a 5-3 decision in Game 1 of their WHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Red Deer Rebels, despite outshooting their opponents 37-24.

The seventh-ranked Oil Kings dominated the second-seeded Rebels during multiple spans of Friday's series opener at the ENMAX Centrium, including outshooting the home side 19-4 in the middle frame. But a four-point night from potential 2011 NHL first-overall draft pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins allowed the Rebels to escape with the win and a 1-0 series lead.

With the teams tied 3-3, Nugent-Hopkins scored the game-winning goal with 5:35 left in the third period and then tallied a power-play insurance marker 1:06 later to seal the win. He also chipped in with a pair of assists, while linemate Andrej Kudrna also had a big night with one goal and two helpers.

Byron Froese and Brett Ferguson spotted the Rebels a 2-0 lead, each beating Oil Kings goalie Jon Groenheyde with high, hard shots on the blocker side. But the Oil Kings battled back and tied it up 2-2 after 40 minutes, as Keegan Lowe stepped into a slap shot from the slot and Cam Abney shovelled in a rebound, with Jordan Hickmott assisting on both tallies.

Kudrna made it 3-2 Red Deer 8:20 into the third period, but Michael St. Croix drew the Oil Kings even once again, snapping a wrist shot from the slot top shelf on goalie Darcy Kuemper. Edmonton was never able to earn a lead, though, as Nugent-Hopkins picked up his pair late to give the Rebels the win.

Kuemper turned aside 34 of the Oil Kings' 37 shots, while Groenheyde made 19 saves in a losing cause. There were two fights in Game 1 between the increasingly bitter provincial rivals, as St. Albert natives Travis Ewanyk of the Oil Kings and Turner Elson of the Rebels duked it out in the second, and Edmonton's Adrian Van de Mosselaer grappled with Ferguson in the first.

The teams will remain in Red Deer for one more game, as the second showdown between the Oil Kings and Rebels is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Centrium. The best-of-seven series then shifts to Edmonton with Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Thursday, both at 7 p.m. at Rexall Place.

Tickets to the first two Oil Kings home playoff games are available starting at just $15 by calling 780-414-GOAL or at oilkings.ca. Fans can also secure their seat to every Oil Kings 2011 home playoff game by purchasing the ATB Financial Playoff Pass for just $40.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 26, 2011


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