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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Fall 4-1 in Red Deer

October 3, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Red Deer, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings (1-1-0-0) were stymied by the Red Deer Rebels (1-1-0-0) on Saturday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium, as they dropped a 4-1 decision in the second half of their weekend home-and-home with their QEII rivals.

The Rebels showed no signs of opening night jitters as they played their first game in front of fans on home ice in 18 months and gave them something to cheer about quickly as Blake Gustafson opened the scoring just 1:22 into the game. Gustafson pounced on a loose puck at the top of the left-circle and ripped a hard wrist-shot past the outstretched arm of Sebastian Cossa, the goal was the Red Deer rearguards first of his WHL career.

The Oil Kings settled into the game after giving up the ice breaker to the Rebels but could not solve Rebels rookie goaltender Chase Coward with any of their 10 first period shots.

In the middle stanza, the Oil Kings would finally breakthrough on the Rebels as they caught a fortuitist bounce that led to the first career WHL goal for Jakub Demek.  On an Edmonton power play at the 7:23 mark, Dylan Guenther blistered a one-timer high over the Red Deer net, sending the puck caroming off a stanchion and right back into the crease where a waiting Demek pushed home the equalizer.

The Rebels answered back shortly after with a power play marker of their own at the 10:49 mark.  With the Rebels on a 4-on-3 man-advantage, Ben King stood along the Oil Kings goal line to the right of Sebastian Cossa, surveyed his options and then decided to muscle the puck home for his second goal in as many nights to restore the Red Deer one-goal advantage heading to the third period.

The Oil Kings came out with plenty of jump in the third period looking to get the game back on level terms, pouring 18 shots on the Rebels net, surpassing their 40-minute total of 15, but could not beat Coward for a second time.  Edmonton's best look came midway through the frame when Guenther was sprung on a partial breakaway, but Coward was able to flash the leather on the Arizona Coyotes first-rounder.

The Rebels sealed up their first win of the year in the final 90 seconds getting a pair of empty-net goals from Jhett Larson and Kai Uchacz.

Cossa finished the night making 26 saves on 28 Red Deer shots, while Coward earned first star honours, stopping 32 of the 33 Edmonton shots.  The Oil Kings went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Rebels were 1-for-3.

The Oil Kings are back in action on Wednesday night when they pay a visit to the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 7:00 P.M., you can listen to the game live at oilkings.ca/radio.

NOTES:

The Oil Kings have now lost two of their last three games against the Rebels following a 17-game streak against them.

Dylan Guenther made his season debut after arriving in Edmonton yesterday afternoon, dating back to last season, he has now recorded a point in three straight games (3G, 4A).

Rookie defencemen Eric Johnston and Braeden Wynne made their WHL debuts for the Oil Kings on Saturday night.

Jalen Luypen returned to the Oil Kings lineup on Saturday night after serving his one-game suspension from the pre-season.

The Oil Kings were without Jaxsen Wiebe on Saturday night after he was issued a suspension following his game misconduct for a check-to-the-head on Friday night, the length of the suspension is still TBD.

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 Friday, October 15 when they welcome the Lethbridge Hurricanes to Rogers Place at 7:00 P.M.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2021


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