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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Season Extended By At Least One Game

March 15, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


The Edmonton Oil Kings get to play a rare WHL tie-breaker. Their game 73 will determine if they'll qualify for the 2008-09 post season.

For the second straight game, the Red Deer Rebels clawed out a one-goal victory over the Oil Kings, this time by a 2-1 margin in front of 11,140 fans at Rexall Place as the Oil Kings celebrated Fan Appreciation Day.

With the loss, the Oil Kings finish the regular season with a 29-34-4-5 record and are tied with the Prince Albert Raiders for the eighth and final playoff spot in the WHL's Eastern Conference with 67 points.

The tie-breaker game is Tuesday March 17th in Prince Albert. It marks just the fourth time, the tie-breaker has been used to decide the final playoff spot. The last time the tie-breaker was used was 19 years ago when the Brandon Wheat Kings defeated the Swift Current Broncos 5-4 to advance to the playoff round.

If fans are interested in jumping on a Oil Kings fan bus for Tuesday's game in Prince Albert, visit www.oilkings.ca and click on the link.

"We're going to get on that bus, we going to go up to P.A. (Prince Albert) and were going to go after it. We're not going to roll over, I'll tell ya that," said Oil Kings head coach Steve Pleau.

"Our guys have character and were learning and that's going to be a hell of a game."

The Oil Kings took a 1-0 lead into the third period on a goal from 20-year-old forward and co-captain Brenden Dowd. However Rebels forward and fellow veteran Carter Smith scored both goals for the Rebels in the third period in what marked Smith's final WHL game.

It was evident that the Oil Kings battled the nerves as they tried to clinch their first ever playoff berth in modern franchise history, and Red Deer, who missed the playoffs for a second straight year, took advantage of it.

"We've got to learn a little bit from this game, no question. Our guys have got to play win. We talked about that when we went down 2-1. "Rock" (Oil Kings assistant coach Rocky Thompson) and I felt we hadn't played to win yet, and we've got to get that mentality," said Pleau.

"It's not a lack of motivation. It's a tough situation to be in for some of those young guys. It's not a lack of motivation, it's not a lack of caring, it's not a lack of effort. It's none of those things. Our guys have great character, its maturity and our guys are learning how to deal with that situation and get your arms around it and make sure you prepare well and you compete."

Red Deer outshot the Oil Kings 36-26 and Torrie Jung (20-20-3-5) was solid once again making 34 saves. Jung's two best saves came in the second period on back-to-back shifts when he came across to snag a back-hand off of Rebels forward Landon Ferraro on a three-on-one and he followed that with a sliding toe save off a Brennen Wray re-direction.

Carter's second goal of the game at the 11:40 mark of the third period was a bit of a tough break for Jung.

"I didn't even really look at the replay. I wasn't aware the puck was loose behind me. They claim they jammed it in. It was a lucky break for them, but that's the way it goes," explained Jung.

"Tonight was a tough game for us. Red Deer played hard, they played us hard both games. They wanted it more tonight, and that's what it came down to. The positive for us is we've got a third chance at this.

"There is no use dwelling on this right now. We've got to go in (to Prince Albert) with the mindset that we are going straight to Calgary right after this."

Now Pleau and the rest of the Oil Kings coaching staff have to get the players to clear their heads and get their minds focused on Prince Albert. They've played Prince Albert four times this season and have posted a 3-0-0-1 record. They were 1-0-0-1 in Prince Albert this season.

"We'll let them be disappointed tonight, I think that's healthy," said Pleau.

"I've always believed when you come to the rink, it's a good day. We're coming... we've got a fresh start. I don't know what the league will classify this as, but I am going to call it playoffs. The regular season is over, and we've got a game left and that's exciting."

With their playoff lives hanging in the balance the Oil Kings will leave Monday for Tuesday night's game in Prince Albert. Oil Kings fans can check out the game by tuning into WHL Web TV at http://livestream.whl.ca/

The winner of that one-game showdown will start the Eastern Conference quarter-final will start their WHL's Eastern Conference quarter-final series with the Calgary Hitmen Thursday March 19th at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

A potential Game 3 will be right back here in Edmonton March 23rd.

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