WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Settle For Split On Weekend Road Trip

Published on February 7, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Brandon, MB - That's a tough schedule. Not only did the Oil Kings just wrap up 4 games in 5 days but 3 of those games were against the top 3 team in the WHL's Eastern Conference. The Brandon Wheat Kings showed why they're one of the most consistent teams in the league extending their winning streak to 4 games with a 6 - 1 win over the Oil Kings. Matt Calvert finished off a week where he racked up 10 points in 3 games thanks to a 5 point night against Edmonton, while Ryan Stone chipped in with a goal and 3 helpers as Brandon's special teams took over in the second period.

This game featured the two most sportsmanlike teams in the league. The Wheat Kings entered the game having given up the least amount of powerplays in the league and Edmonton was second in the WHL in that category. Ironically, it was a powerplay goal that broke a scoreless first period with just 1:46 to go. Brandon was enjoying their 3rd man advantage of the game when Mark Stone came busting into the Oil Kings zone on the right wing. He faked a pass back to the point, looked like he was going to drive to the net but caught the Oil Kings defense by surprise when he did drop a pass to the trailer. Brayden Schenn had some room to pick the corner on rookie goalie Cam Lanigan who was playing in the place of the injured Torrie Jung. Schenn's 25th of the season gave Brandon the 1 nothing lead heading into the first intermission.

The Oil Kings roster had a different look to the one iced 24 hours earlier in their 2 - 1 win over Regina. Beausejour, Manitoba native Devin Balness was making his WHL debut while rookie defenseman Jesse Pearson was playing his first game since missing 17 contests with a shoulder injury.

Mark Stone was the set up guy on the Wheat Kings next goal early in the second period. After going 2 minutes without generating a shot on net with the man advantage, Brandon made up for it with one broken play. Stone drew the attention of both Oil Kings defenseman as he came busting down the right wing. That left Matt Calvert all alone in the slot and he slid a quick shot under Lanigan for his 14th goal of the season. That made it 2 nothing just over 5 minutes into the second period.

The Oil Kings penalty trouble continued through the second period. Brandon would extend their lead on yet another powerplay. Matt Calvert found a lane and fed a pass back to the point for Matt Lowry. He didn't waste any time firing a shot on net with Ryan Stone on the doorstep. Stone made a quick move to put one past Lanigan for his 10th of the season. All of a sudden it was 3 nothing.

It was all Wheat Kings special teams in the middle frame. Edmonton's defense found themselves backing in while they were caught on their own powerplay. It looked like rookie Mark Pysyk made a nice sliding play to take a puck away from Matt Calvert but the puck squirted loose and Calvert regained control. Then he tried to pass the puck across the crease but that attempt was blocked by another sliding Oil Kings defender and that ended up right back on the stick of Calvert who had a tap in for his 4th point of the game. That shorthanded goal made it 4 - 0 heading into the second intermission.

Robin Soudek would break the goose egg on a nice re-direct powerplay goal early in the third period. Calvert's hat trick goal came on the powerplay a couple of minutes later and Keith Aulie added a single to make the final score 6 - 1. Brandon finished up on the night going 3 for 10 on the powerplay plus they added that shorthanded goal.

Edmonton settles for a split on their 2 game swing through the East Division and their record slips to 24-29-2-4. The Oil Kings will have just a few days off in between games as they get set for another busy week. They'll play 3 games in 4 nights starting Wednesday night in Cranbrook against the Kootenay Ice. Then they'll head south of the border for games against Tri-Cities and Spokane next weekend. The next home game at Rexall Place isn't until February 25th. That's another Weiner Wednesday featuring $2 hot dogs all night long.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2009


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