WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Match Season High Four-Game Winning Streak

January 10, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Brandon, MB - The Edmonton Oil Kings are really on a roll. They've tied their modern franchise record for the second time this season with a 4 game winning streak after a 5 - 4 win over the Wheat Kings in Brandon. Mark Pysyk was the overtime hero as Edmonton remains perfect on this 3 game in 3 night stretch through Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The home team had the early jump after Nathan Green was able to beat Oil Kings rookie goalie Cam Lanigan just over 8 minutes into the hockey game. The 16 year old netminder was making his first appearance since December 9th when he picked up a 6 - 3 win over the Swift Current Broncos.

The Oil Kings answered in the late stages of the opening frame. Co-captain Jeff Lee made a nice play driving to the net hard on the backhand and was able to feed Brenden Dowd for his team leading 16th of the season. It was 1 - 1 after the first and Brandon was leading on the shot clock 16 - 9.

15 year old Michael St. Croix scored in his WHL debut Friday night in Moose Jaw and almost made it 2 for 2 at about the 14 minute mark of the second period. He lead an Oil Kings rush into the Brandon zone and dished off for Logan Proulx near the top of the circle. St. Croix drifted back to the slot and put himself into a perfect position for the return pass and one-timer. His blast was tipped in front by Shayne Neigum for the go-ahead goal. Neigum's on a personal best 4 game point streak now.

The Wheat Kings wouldn't pack it in that easily and came out of the gates flying in the third period. Andrew Clark was creating some traffic in front of the Oil Kings zone. Defenseman Brodie Melnychuk's point shot deflected off Clark and in for his 24th goal of the year. It was 2 - 2 just :52 seconds into the final frame.

The see-saw battle continued as the Oil Kings responded just 95 seconds later on a terrific play by Oil Kings sniper Brett Breitkreuz. He made a nice drag move on a defenseman and was able to split the 'd' and followed that up by roofing a backhand past Wheat Kings goalie Andrew Hayes. Breitkreuz's 16th of the year made it 3 - 2.

Brandon had an answer just a few minutes later. Jay Fehr was set up neatly from behind the net by Andrew Clark from behind the net. Fehr sniped one from close range for his 17th of the year. It was 3 - 3.

That didn't seem to phase Edmonton. Craig McCallum pounced all over a turnover at the Wheat Kings line and turned that into a partial 2 on 1 with Jeff Lee. McCallum cut to the middle and used Lee as a screen to get a shot away. Brended Dowd came in late as the trailer and stuffed in his second of the night to make it 4 - 3.

The Wheat Kings came from behind to tie the game for a third time. Team Canada defenseman Keith Aulie jumped up into the high slot and fired a hard low shot that was tipped in front by Brayden Schenn who was providing a pretty good screen in front. The powerplay goal tied the game at 4 and set up the dramatics in overtime.

Mark Pysyk had a couple of Wheat Kings between him and net but was able to rip a drive that beat Hayes high on the glove side. The terrific point shot was his 4th goal of the year and first game winner of the season to make the final 5 - 4.

The Oil Kings draw back to the .500 mark with a record of 20-20-2-4 and will wrap up this hectic weekend with a game Sunday night against Jordan Eberle and the Regina Pats. Game time is 5 o'clock Edmonton time.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2009


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