WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings earn much deserved point in shootout loss to Red Deer

January 3, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


RED DEER- Cam Lanigan hasn't started a game for the Edmonton Oil Kings in almost two months, but he was in fine form Saturday night against the Red Deer Rebels.

Lanigan showed no signs of rust making 26 saves, but unfortunately the Oil Kings ran into an equally hot goaltender in Darcy Kuemper and they fell 2-1 in a shootout.

Kuemper made 29 saves through regulation and overtime, but his counterpart Kraymer Barnstable came in relief in the shootout to earn the win against Edmonton as the Rebels took the first half of a home-and-home series with the Oil Kings this weekend.

"I thought he was tremendous. He looked big in the net, and I thought he had a great game," said Oil Kings head coach Steve Pleau.

"He's going to get an opportunity to play (in the second half). He did a good job off the ice of staying in good condition and working in practice and he's earned it."

Lanigan's best save of the night came in the second period as he robbed Rebels defenceman Alex Petrovic not once, but twice. The Rebels defender sneaked into the slot and let a one-timer go. Lanigan came up with the big toe save and followed it up with a sprawling glove save off Petrovic on the rebound.

Oil Kings forward T.J. Foster scored the Oil Kings lone goal, while Willie Coetzee replied for Red Deer. John Persson scored the only tally in the shootout.

The Oil Kings put together one of their stronger periods of the season in the opening frame, but weren't rewarded. They had three chances on the power play, but came up empty.

"You've got to cash in on one of those power plays in the first period, but it was a good hard fought game," added Pleau.

"You've got to earn it. Whether it's in the shootout, four-on-four, or five on five, you've got to cash in.

"We stuck right with them. I like how we played our system, we've just got to find a way."

The Rebels got their chances with the man advantage in the second period, but it was the Oil Kings who did the damage on the scoreboard, and they did it short-handed.

Foster took a feed from defenceman Adrian Van de Mosselaer at the Oil Kings blueline and streaked in alone. He ripped a shot through the legs of Kuemper for his second goal of the season. It was the Oil Kings second short-handed marker of the season as well.

The Rebels pressed Edmonton for the equalizer in the third period and spoiled Lanigan's chance for his first career shutout with Coetzee's goal at the 3:30 mark of the third period.

Both teams traded chances in the overtime session, and Persson's goal just squeaked through the pads of Lanigan for the game winner.

The loss in the shootout drops the Oil Kings record to 10-21-4-6 on the season. They are just 1-7 in shootouts so far this year.

"It's something we've got to bear down. It's a good opportunity to get another point.That's seven lost points, and that could be a big difference in the standings," said Lanigan, who dropped his record to 3-3-2-2.

"It's something we have to work on, but there isn't much you can do. It's mostly an individual effort (shootouts) and the guys are going to have to take it upon themselves in practice to bear down on those pucks."

After a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings on New Year's Eve, the Oil Kings deserved a better fate to begin 2010. Despite the loss, they are showing signs of getting out of this slump.

"We got to keep our head up," added Lanigan.

"We had a good third period against Brandon (on Thursday), and we were able to build off that.

"We can't get into losing habits. We have to realize we are here to win, and we want to win.

"We have to figure it out and put it together and try and get that winning atmosphere back. I think we can make a strong push."

Pleau isn't one for New Year's resolutions, but he liked what he saw from his squad in the loss.

"We've just got to play with structure. We've got to outwork other teams as well. Our work ethic and intensity have to be a factor every night," explained Pleau.

"I thought we did a lot of those things really well tonight, we just weren't able to get the two points."

The Oil Kings and Rebels will meet for their second half of their home-and-home tomorrow afternoon at Rexall Place. It's Signature Sunday afternoon. Oil Kings fans can get all their favourite players autographs after the game. Puck drop is 2 p.m.

Check out the Edmonton Oil Kings Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2010


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