WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Hammer the Hitmen

February 4, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Calgary, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings kicked off their 5-game road trip with a commanding 5-1 win over the Calgary Hitmen Saturday afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

For a second straight matchup between the Oil Kings and Hitmen, it would be the Oil Kings getting off to a quick start as they took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Rhett Melnyk opened the scoring 6:09 into the game after taking a pass from Vojtech Port in the left-circle, skating his way into the slot and lasering a shot over the right arm of Ethan Buenaventura for his 12th of the season.

Late in the first period, the Oil Kings extended their lead on a lengthy two-man advantage with Rilen Kovacevic blasting a one-timer home from the left-circle on a setup from Jacob Hoffrogge for his 12th of the campaign. With his assist on the play, Hoffrogge collected his first point as an Oil King.

In the second period, Luca Hauf extended the Edmonton lead shortly after the Oil Kings killed off a Hitmen power play, largely thanks to a pair of dazzling pad saves from Logan Cunningham, after he stepped over the Calgary blue line and ripped a shot into the top corner, past the glove hand of Buenaventura for his fourth goal of the season.

The Hitmen answered back less than a minute later as Riley Fildder-Schultz was able to cash in from the left circle on a Calgary power play.

The Hitmen fired 15 shots the way of the Edmonton net in the middle stanza but had to settle for just the one goal as the Oil Kings maintained their two-goal lead at the second intermission.

In the third period, the Oil Kings would pull away for good adding two more goals.

First, Hauf notched his second of the afternoon, and third point, on and Edmonton power play after taking a pass at the side of the Calgary net and then going between his own legs with his shot that alluded Brayden Peters.

Loick Daigle would finish off the scoring with under five minutes left after gloving down a pass in the neutral zone, sprinting into the right-circle of the Hitmen zone and lacing the puck between the legs of Peters.

Cunningham finished the night making 38 saves for his third of the season, while Buenaventura and Peters combined for 25 saves in the loss for Calgary. The Oil Kings went 2-for-5 on the power play, the Hitmen were 1-for-4.

Next up, the Oil Kings head to Saskatoon to take on the Blades Tuesday, February 7 at 6:00 p.m. MT.

The Edmonton Oil Kings next home game is Saturday, February 18 when they take on the Calgary Hitmen at 7:00 p.m.

The Edmonton Oil Kings provide Family Fun Second to None with great seats starting at just $20, head to oilkings.ca to secure your seat in #TheKingdom today!

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2023


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