WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings skate away with 4-3 win

Published on May 18, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


SHAWINIGAN - Four different Oil Kings registered a goal as Edmonton went on to defeat the hometown Cataractes and take game one of the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament.

The Oil Kings were the first to get on the board at 2:41. Kristians Pelss accepted a gorgeous pass from Michael St. Croix in the crease and tapped it past Alex Dubeau.

Edmonton inherited two consecutive minor penalties on roughing calls and the fan favourites capitalized. Michael Chaput pounced on a juicy rebound in the slot and shot the puck past Laurent Brossoit. Brandon Gormley was awarded an assist on the goal.

Things tightened up in the second frame with only four shots on goal being registered in the first half of the period. The score stayed tied at one heading into the third.

With only 61 seconds gone by in the third period Griffin Reinhart put the Oil Kings up by a goal with a shot that found the top-right corner of the net. Martin Gernat doubled Edmonton's lead with his first goal of the tournament at 5:40.

To the delight of the hometown crowd the Cataractes cut the lead just a few minutes later. Anton Zlobin managed poke the puck past the goal line just as the whistle was blown. Michael Chaput tied the score at three with fewer than seven minutes remaining in the period, but the lead was very short-lived as Henrik Samuelsson put the Oil Kings back up by profiting from a costly Cataractes turnover and one-timing a shot in the net.

Head coach Éric Veilleux pulled his goaltender with approximately 90 seconds to play in the game. Despite a few great opportunities, the Cataractes were unable to pull even with the Oil Kings.

Griffin Reinhart was named the first star of the game.

Game two of the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup goes tomorrow as the defending national champions Saint John Sea Dogs take on the OHL champions London Knights. Fans can catch the game live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports starting at 7 pm ET.

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Western Hockey League Stories from May 18, 2012


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