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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Lose a Wild One in Medicine Hat

October 28, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Medicine Hat, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings got off to a hot start on Friday night in Medicine Hat but saw a sizeable lead slip away falling 7-4 to the Tigers at Co-Op Place.

A dominant first period from the Oil Kings started with them getting the game's opening goal just 17 seconds after the opening faceoff after Roan Woodward and Marshall combined to get the puck to the Medicine Hat net to create a goal-mouth scramble and eventually it would be Rilen Kovacevic pushing the puck across the goal line for his team leading seventh goal of the season.

The Oil Kings then used the power play to extend their lead at the 7:10 mark of the first period after Skyler Bruce received a pass along the goal line of the Tigers zone, forced his way to the front of their net and swept the puck past the outstretched pad of Medicine Hat netminder Evan May for his first goal as an Oil King.

Just 3:20 later, Adam Jecho gave Edmonton a 3-0 lead after he was able to pickoff an outlet pass from May and dump the puck into a yawning cage for his sixth of the season, spelling the end of the night for May as he was replaced by Zach Zahara after giving up three goals on 13 shots.

With just under six minutes left in the opening frame, Blake Fiddler potted the Oil Kings fourth goal of the period after he drove hard to the paint on an Edmonton odd-man rush and was able to bang home a rebound generated off a sharp angle shot from Cole Miller for his first career WHL goal.

At the first intermission, the Oil Kings had a 4-0 lead and were also outshooting the Tigers 20-10.

In the second period, the Oil Kings ran into penalty trouble finding themselves shorthanded four times, allowing the Tigers to get themselves back in the game.

8:09 into the middle stanza, Gavin McKenna got the Tigers on the board with a top-shelf shot from the left-circle of the Edmonton zone on a 5-on-3 Medicine Hat power play.

At the 12:42 mark of the period, the Tigers got to within two after Cayden Lindstrom finished off an odd-man rush into the Edmonton zone with a one-timer from the right-circle on a setup from Andrew Basha.

Later in the period, Basha found himself on a breakaway but was denied by Edmonton netminder Logan Cunningham to keep the Oil Kings lead at 4-2 at the second intermission.

In the third period, the Tigers would complete an impressive comeback scoring five times in the final frame.

Lindstrom got his second of the game 3:59 into period and then less than three minutes later McKenna would notch his second power play goal of the contest to level the score at four.

At the 9:04 mark, Tyler MacKenzie gave the Tigers lead with his first of a natural hat-trick. MacKenzie would finish off the trick with a pair of insurance markers at the 9:45 and 18:13 mark of the period.

Cunningham finished the night making 26 saves for the Oil Kings, while Zahara earned the victory for the Tigers making 23 stops in relief. Edmonton went 1-for-8 on the power play, Medicine Hat was 2-for-7.

Next up, the Oil Kings return to Rogers Place tomorrow night for their United Against Cancer game when they take on the Portland Winterhawks at 7:00 P.M.

The Edmonton Oil Kings next home game is their United Against Cancer game on Saturday, October 28 at 7:00 P.M. when they take on the Portland Winterhawks at Rogers Place.

The Oil Kings are Edmonton's first choice for family fun with great seats starting at $20 and season seats for as low as $9 per-game for an entire season of thrilling WHL action!

Head to OilKings.ca to secure your seat today!

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2023


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