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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Drop OT Thriller to Rebels

April 3, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings (46-14-3-1) couldn't hold onto a late third period lead at Rogers Place on Sunday, as for a second consecutive night they dropped a one-goal decision to the Red Deer Rebels (43-17-2-2).

The Rebels jumped out to an early lead just 3:07 into the game as Talon Brigley tipped home a point shot from Blake Gustafson to stake the visitors to a 1-0 advantage.

Late in the first period, the Rebels extended their lead to two on a power play after Liam Keeler pounced on a loose puck at the side of the Edmonton net and muscled it across the goal line.

The Oil Kings were able halve the Red Deer lead with 28 seconds left in the opening frame as a pinballing puck, following a Luke Prokop shot, landed on the tape of Jakub Demek in front of the Red Deer net where he would make a strong move to his backhand to tuck the puck around a prone Connor Ungar for his 20th goal of the season.

In the second period, the Oil Kings were able to build off the momentum from the goal late in the first as just 2:54 into the middle stanza Justin Sourdif knotted the score at two after he wired a one-timer over the shoulder of Ungar from the high-slot on a setup from Dylan Guenther.

The Oil Kings took their first lead of the game just under six minutes later after Cole Miller skated onto a loose puck in the Red Deer zone and from the right-wing corner, snapped a shot through the legs of Ungar for his eighth goal of the campaign.

The Rebels brought the game back even with just over 90 seconds left in the period with Ben King firing home his 48th goal of the season on a Red Deer power play after he was setup for a one-timer in the right-wing circle by Arshdeep Bains. The assist for Bains was his 100th point of the season.

A tight-checking third period saw the teams remain knotted at three until the final stages.

With just over two minutes left in regulation, the Rebels would take two penalties in quick succession to give the Oil Kings a late five-on-three opportunity and with 1:58 left on the clock, Jaxsen Wiebe cashed in on a centering pass from Tyler Horstmann for his ninth goal of the season to briefly put Edmonton back on top.

In the final minute, the Rebels pulled Ungar for an extra-attacker and with just nine seconds left, Bains sniped the equalizer from the slot off a faceoff win in the Oil Kings zone to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Jace Weir sprung Jhett Larson for a breakaway just over two minutes into the bonus period and the rookie Rebel forward made no mistake on the clear-cut chance to give Red Deer the 5-4 win.

Kolby Hay finished the night with 28 saves, while Ungar turned away 35 in the win for the Rebels. Edmonton went 1-for-6 on the power play, Red Deer was 2-for-6.

Next up, the Oil Kings host their inaugural Pride Day Game on Saturday, April 9 at 2:00 PM against the Rebels, the game is also the Oil Kings final home game of the regular season.

Edmonton Oil Kings Season Seats, Flex-Packs, Weekend Passes and Single-Game tickets, for as low as $20 per game, are currently on sale at oilkings.ca.

The Oil Kings next home game is their final home game of the regular season and is also the team's inaugural Pride Day Game on Saturday, April 9 at 2:00 PM when they welcome the Red Deer Rebels to Rogers Place.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2022


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