WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings lose heartbreaker to Swift Current

Published on February 27, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Swift Current, SK - The Edmonton Oil Kings got a taste of what playoff hockey could be like in the coming weeks.

In the heat of the WHL playoff battle, the Oil Kings erased a late 2-1 third period lead, but lost 3-2 in a heart breaker to the Swift Current Broncos Friday night.

Broncos defenceman Derek Claffey scored his third goal of the season with just 12 seconds left in the extra session.

Craig McCallum and Brent Raedeke replied for the Oil Kings, while Eric Doyle and Jan Dalecky scored for Swift Current in regulation.

"We battled hard, it was a hell of a game," said Oil Kings head coach Steve Pleau.

"They had a lot of great chances on the power play including that four-on-three in overtime and I don't think they had a scoring chance."

Torrie Jung (18-17-2-5) made 16 saves in the tight checking playoff style battle. He was particularly strong in the third period and in overtime after the Oil Kings found themselves short-handed for a good portion of overtime.

"He's been great, and at this point (in the season), its come expected. He gives it to us night in and night out and to me he's one of the best goalies in the league right now."

Both teams began overtime with just three skaters a piece after Raedeke and Dalecky were sent off for coincidental minors.

Kieran Friesen was sent off for hooking at the 1:09 mark of overtime and the Oil Kings had just three skaters on the ice for over three minutes of overtime.

Swift Current finished 1 for 7 on the power play, while the Oil Kings were 0 for 2.

"There is no way they deserved seven power plays," said Pleau.

"For crying out loud, the shots were 12-9 after the first two periods and they seemed to get all the chances with the power play."

Swift Current struck for the game's first goal on their first chance with the man advantage. Their first power play unit moved the puck around nicely, and Doyle's shot beat a screened Jung just 5:46 into the opening period.

The Oil Kings tied the game at the 11:10 mark of the first period when Brett Breitkreuz jumped on a Broncos turnover at the blueline and walked down the right wing and ripped a shot on Travis Yonkman (21-14-0-1). McCallum, who hails from Canoe Arrows, Saskatchewan was there to bang in the rebound.

Swift Current took a 2-1 lead when Dalecky scored his 12th goal of the season. He and his linemates, Geordie Wudrick and Cody Eakin was the most dangerous line for the Broncos.

Wudrick came into the contest having scored in seven straight games. His streak ended, but he did finish the game with two assists, and he helped set-up Dalecky's goal at the 10:02 mark of the second period.

As the Oil Kings looked to tie the game in the third period, it was Swift Current who had the best chances in the third period. Jung's best saves came twice off of chances from Eakin.

Jung corralled Eakin's one-timer shot from the slot, and later he would slide across to stack the pads to rob Eakin.

The Oil Kings didn't succumb to the pressure from the Broncos and on just their fourth shot of the final period. Raedeke was able to tie the game when he outhustled a Broncos defenceman along the wall and his wrist shot beat Yonkman with just 6:11 remaining.

Edmonton didn't walk away from Swift Current with two points, but they didn't walk away empty handed. They earned a valuable point in the playoff race.

The Oil Kings record now stands at 27-31-3-5 and have moved into eighth place in the WHL's Eastern Conference with 62 points.

"It was a great shot by Rexy (Raedeke) with six minutes to go, and I thought it was a hard earned point," said Pleau.

"It would have been nice to get two points, but at this time of the year, anytime you can walk into this kind of atmosphere and get a point in a very tight race, you have to be happy.

"They have a lot of big offensive weapons and we did a good job against them limiting their chances. I am happy with the way the guys battled and competed tonight."

The Oil Kings will continue their two-game road trip through southwest Saskatchewan when they take on the Moose Jaw Warriors Saturday night.

The Oil Kings next home game is March 6, against the Broncos and it will be Faith and Family Night. Hip-Hop group and two-time Grammy award winner GRITS will perform during intermission and Edmonton Eskimo Patrick Kabongo will be a guest speaker after the game.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2009


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