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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Fall in Shootout to Hurricanes

April 18, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings (13-1-0-1) saw their four-game win streak come to an end on Saturday night falling 6-5 in a shootout to the Lethbridge Hurricanes (7-7-2-0).

After being shutout on home ice Thursday night by the Oil Kings, the Hurricanes found their offensive rhythm early at the Downtown Community Arena scoring three times in the opening period.

"We know teams are motivated coming in here and we've got to try and match that motivation," said Oil Kings Assistant Coach Luke Pierce on his team's slow start. "Not to make excuses for our guys, but we're missing Scott Atkinson, Liam Keeler and Dylan Guenther, those are three significant Western Hockey League players and you take guys like that out of any lineup it's going to be a challenge so I think the guys that are here have found a way to make up some of those minutes but it catches up to you."

Justin Hall, an Edmonton native and the Hurricanes leading scorer, wasted no time putting the visitors on the board as he intercepted an Edmonton clearing attempt through the middle of the ice, stepped between the hashmarks and lasered a shot over the shoulder of Sebastian Cossa to stake his team to a 1-0 lead just 1:19 into the game. Noah Boyko scored his first of two in the period at the 7:21 mark on a power-play sneaking a shot through a maze of bodies in front of Cossa from the right-wing circle. Jalen Luypen answered right back for the Oil Kings scoring his team-leading 12th goal (tied with Dylan Guenther) of the campaign as he was able to outmuscle a pair of Lethbridge defenders in front of their net and shovel a loose puck past Bryan Thomson following a sneaky wrist shot from Blake Heward from the right half-wall that glanced off the post causing the net-front scramble. Before the period was out, Boyko restored the Hurricanes two goal advantage after taking a drop pass from Justin Hall on a clean zone entry and fooling Cossa with backhand to the short-side from the left circle.

The Oil Kings erased their first period two-goal deficit in short order in the second period scoring twice in the opening 2:49. First, Kaid Oliver was sprung on partial breakaway by Josh Williams and wired a quick shot over the left-shoulder of Thomson from the left-wing circle for his ninth goal of the season. Then, with the Oil Kings shorthanded, Jake Neighbours tied the game after he was awarded a penalty-shot after he was hauled down a breakaway and made a slick move to his backhand on the penalty-shot to beat Thomson for his sixth goal of the season.

The Hurricanes restored their lead just before the halfway point of the period getting another power-play goal from Boyko, completing the Fort Saskatchewan products hat-trick. The Oil Kings got back level once again with Caleb Reimer scoring his first career WHL goal after being left alone in front of the Lethbridge net and powering a shot under the pads of Thomson on a setup by Neighbours with 6:16 left on the clock. Zack Stringer gave the Hurricanes back their lead with just over two minutes left in the period as he re-directed an Alex Thacker shot from the left circle.

The Oil Kings came out in the third period determined to get the game back even and they finally broke through with just under 10 minutes left in regulation.

"There was a lot fight in our group, there's no question," added Pierce on his team's ability to continue to battle back. "We've seen it a couple times lately, getting down and fighting back. I think our guys have a lot of resolve and I thought our veteran guys really stepped up late, but unfortunately we kept putting ourselves behind and it's tough to climb back."

Carter Souch spotted an open Ethan Cap in the right-wing circle that he launched into the top-shelf for his second goal of the season on a power-play. The teams traded chances in the final half of the last stanza, but regulation would not be enough to decide a winner.

In overtime, both teams would get high-quality chances to win the game. Lethbridge's best chance came from defenceman Alex Cotton as he found himself in alone on Cossa but the Oil Kings goaltender came up with a left-pad save. Edmonton's best chance came off the stick of Luypen after he drilled a quick shot from the slot on goal off a rebound that Thomson was able to steer aside while falling to his backside.

In the shootout, the Oil Kings sent out Luypen, Souch, Williams and Neighbours but they couldn't solve Thomson while Logan Barlage secured the win for the Hurricanes scoring in the fourth round of the shootout.

The Oil Kings outshot Lethbridge 39-36 and went one-for-five on the power-play, while the Hurricanes were two-for-five with the man-advantage.

The Oil Kings and Hurricanes meet again Sunday night in Lethbridge at 7 PM.

Notes:

Jake Neighbours extended his point streak to 14 games with a goal and an assist, while also overtaking the team lead in points with 25 (6G, 19A).

Jalen Luypen extended his goal and point streak to five games (6G, 4A).

Carson Latimer extended his point streak four games with an assist (1G, 3A).

Kaid Oliver extended his point streak to four games with a goal (4G, 1A).

The Oil Kings are now 27-51 all-time in shootouts.

Tyler Horstmann was assessed a game misconduct for slewfooting in the second period.

The Oil Kings played without Dylan Guenther (U-18's), Scott Atkinson (injury) and Liam Keeler.

Rookie forward Shea Van Olm made his WHL debut.

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