Sports stats



WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Fend off Hitmen, Win Eighth Straight

March 27, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - Jalen Luypen's three-point first period helped spur his team to victory on Friday night as the Edmonton Oil Kings (8-0-0-0) dispatched the Calgary Hitmen (4-4-1-0) 4-3 at the Downtown Community Arena to continue the team's perfect start to the season.

"It's pretty cool to break that one record that we did," said Luypen on his team's hot start to the year. "We're just trying to be better everyday and there is no better feeling than winning."

Luypen would setup Carson Latimer for the rookies second goal of the season 8:37 into the first period to get the Oil Kings an early lead.  Luypen took a puck off the boards at center ice, raced into the right-wing circle and hooked a pass across the goal-mouth for Latimer to one-time home.  Luypen would then score the next two Edmonton goals, the first giving the team a 2-0 lead after it was his turn to take advantage of a backdoor setup with Liam Keeler providing the assist at 11:29 of the opening frame.  Luypen would close the period snapping in a shot from the right-wing circle, under the glove of Hitmen goaltender Jack McNaughton just 15-seconds after the Hitmen got on the board with goal from Connor Gabruch at the 16:37 mark of the period, the goal was Luypen's sixth of the year.  Earlier in the period, Oil Kings goaltender Sebastian Cossa would stop Hitmen defenceman Jackson van de Leest on a penalty shot, making a right-pad save.

The line of Luypen, Keeler and Latimer finished the first period combining for three goals and seven points.

"I think there is no line that can match with our speed, I think we're the fastest line in the league," added Luypen on his line's success. "I love playing with those two; Keels (Liam Keeler) is a veteran in this league and knows what to do and Lats (Carson Latimer) has taken a big step in our lineup and will be a great player in this league these next few years."

"They had a good year last year and the one thing about those guys is they're responsible," said Oil Kings head coach Brad Lauer. "They keep the puck out of the dangerous areas and this year they've earned the opportunity to have some more offensive chances and they've embraced those opportunities."

With the Oil Kings up 3-1 nearing the midway point of a tight-checking second period, the team would get their first power play of the game and wasted no time converting.  Just 30-seconds into the man-advantage Josh Williams took a pass from Ethan Cap at the top of the right-wing circle and elevated a quick wrist shot through a maze of bodies past McNaughton for his second goal in as many games and sixth of the season.

The three-goal deficit would provide a wakeup call to the Hitmen as they found their game past the halfway mark of the period and got goals from Orca Wiesblatt and Luke Prokop in a span of 3:38 to close out the period down just a goal.

The Oil Kings would lock things down in the third period allowing just eight shots on net by the desperate Hitmen that Cossa would tun aside as he made 26 saves on the night for his seventh victory of the season.

"I thought we were in good control of the game at 4-1 and then we had two breakdowns defensively," said Lauer. "We played a good team who works hard, and you give Calgary those opportunities, they're going to bury them.  One thing is though is we were able to stick do it and had a good third period.  We may bend but we don't break, and we find ways to win hockey games."

Next up the Oil Kings travel to Calgary to take on the Hitmen Saturday afternoon at 2 PM.

Notes:

Jalen Luypen's three-point night was the first of his career and second two-goal game of his career.

With their goals tonight, Luypen and teammate Josh Williams moved into a tie for fourth in the league's goal scoring race with six each.

Cason Latimer recorded his first career multi-point game with a goal and an assist.

Jake Neighbours picked up an assist in the second period to extend his point-streak to start the season to eight games (2G, 11A), he now tied for fourth in league scoring.

The team played without defenceman Matthew Robertson and forward Carter Souch on Friday night but are expected to have both return to the lineup on Saturday.

The Oil Kings have now won 14 of their last 18 regular-season games against the Hitmen.

Check out the Edmonton Oil Kings Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central