WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings fall 6-1 to potent Pats

Published on February 14, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


EDMONTON, AB- The Edmonton Oil Kings have played some of their best hockey the last couple of weeks as they try to string together a strong push to the end of the regular season. But that string was cut Saturday night against the Regina Pats.

Forwards Jordan Eberle, Jordan Weal and Matt Streuby all scored three points each to pace the Pats to a 6-1 win over the Oil Kings.

Streuby scored twice and added an assist and Eberle and Weal each had one goal and two assists. Brett Leffler and Kyle Mulder scored the Pats other goals.

Edmonton's lone goal was scored by Garry Nunn, who stretches his point scoring streak to seven games.

"I thought our first period and a half were okay, but then we shut it down for whatever reason and we can't do that against that team," said Oil Kings head coach Steve Pleau.

"The one thing they have is skill and we saw it tonight."

Edmonton came out physical in the first period and threw some big hits to try and get the Pats skill players off their game.

Rookie defenceman Braeden Laroque caught Leffler with a solid body check in the corner, and later veteran defender Drew Nichol threw one of the best hits of the night on Eberle near the bench.

"We played physical in parts of the game and some guys played physical, but when you talk about playing physical it's got to be a team effort," said Pleau.

"I don't think we had a team effort there."

They certainly had the physical edge, but it was Regina who would open the scoring when Streuby would jump on an Oil Kings turnover at the blueline and snap a shot that Oil Kings goaltender Torrie Jung got a piece of, but it found the back of the net.

That goal came with just 23 seconds left in the first period.

Nunn would tie the game early in the second period to regain some of the momentum back, but just 10 seconds later Regina took the lead back and didn't look back.

"It's always tough when you score, and they score 10 seconds later. Mentally it's a grind, but you've got to be tougher mentally than that and you got to work thorough those things," said Pleau.

"If you're going to be a winning hockey team and a competing hockey team you have to work through those things, and we didn't."

Jung was pulled after the second period after Regina would strike two more times to make it 4-1. He would finish with 18 saves.

Cam Lanigan would make 11 saves on 13 shots in the third period.

The loss, drops the Oil Kings record to 12-36-4-8 and are now four points back of Lethbridge as they try to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement.

"You can't do it in one day. You have to keep working at it and keep pushing them to get better," said Pleau.

"I can't really say anything to them right now. I think the score speaks for itself and where we're at speaks for itself, but Monday when we come to practice they will be ready to work."

The Oil Kings will try to get back in the win column when they get back on the ice to face the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday February 19th. It's the Oil Kings third annual Faith and Family Night (visit http://www.oilkings.ca/ for more information). Tickets can be purchased at any ticketmaster location or by calling 780 414 GOAL.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2010


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