WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Snap Losing Skid With Hard Fought 6 - 5 Overtime Win Over Brandon

Published on October 13, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - For two teams so geographically far apart, the Edmonton Oil Kings and Brandon Wheat Kings sure have some heated exchanges. A fight-filled Thanksgiving game ended with a Brett Breitkreuz powerplay overtime winner as the Oil Kings snapped a 3 game losing skid with an entertaining 6 - 5 win over the Wheat Kings. Breitkreuz and co-captain Jeff each had a 3 point night while Jay Fehr picked up 2 goals and 2 assists in a losing cause for the Wheat Kings.

"If you're a coach and you're drawing it up on the board, you're probably not scripting up the game that way." described Oil Kings Head Coach Steven Pleau. "We did battle tonight. Guys stood up for each other, we had some great hits and guys stood up for each other. We were physical and we found a way to win."

"It was huge." said Breitkreuz describing his team's 5th win of the year. "We didn't start off our home stand the way we wanted to but I thought we rebounded well tonight. We played a good home game and kind of got into a bit of a shootout with them but we have a team that can sometimes pull those out this year whereas last year we would've been in trouble."

The game was off to a spirited start when heavyweights Drew Nichol and Jordan Hale squared off deep in the Brandon zone. Both players got in some big blows but Hale landed a late shot that gave him the decision. Both teams were fired up.

Brandon opened the scoring after some hard work in the Edmonton zone. Oil Kings goalie Dalyn Flette made the first save but he came out to cut off the angle and couldn't quite smother the rebound. Defenseman Mark Pysyk was forced to come up with a couple of big saves before 19 year old Jay Fehr jammed one in on his third try.

Edmonton tied it up about 6 minutes later - Brandon Lockerby was able to spring Brett Breitkreuz for a breakaway. He was initially stopped by Andrew Hayes but was able to tap in the rebound as he busted wide of the net. Breitkreuz has 4 goals in his last 3 games. That tied things up at one.

Brandon replied just 11 seconds later. An Oil Kings turnover at their own line gave Jay Fehr a partial breakaway from the blue line in. Fehr roofed a shot in tight for the unassisted goal to give the Wheat Kings a 2 -1 lead heading into the first intermission.

The Wheat Kings got into some penalty trouble near the end of the first period which gave the Oil Kings a great opportunity to start the second period with a 5 on 3 powerplay on fresh ice. They capitalized 93 seconds into the period. Breitkreuz set up at the top of the circle and fed a pass back to Brandon Lockerby on the point. His shot sailed high and wide but it bounced off the end glass and right to the stick of Brenden Dowd who stuffed in his sixth of the year. It was all square at 2 goals apiece.

The Wheat Kings would re-gain their lead before the period was through. The line of Jay Fehr, Scott Glennie and Aaron Lewadniuk were buzzing around the Oil Kings zone all afternoon. Their third goal of the game was a result of just crowding the crease and banging away at loose pucks. Lewadniuk scored his third of the season and Fehr picked up his third point of the game to make it 3 - 2.

Edmonton would fight back with another powerplay goal just over a minute later. The powerplay was a result of veteran Matt McCue taking exception to a hit that rookie defenseman Jesse Pearson delivered. McCue jumped Pearson giving him the extra instigating penalty and the Oil Kings went to work on their 4th powerplay of the game. This time it was Craig McCallum stuffing in a loose rebound after line mates Brenden Dowd and Brett Breitkreuz had a couple of whacks at the loose puck. The game was tied at 3 heading into the third period.

It was more of the same from the hot Wheat Kings line in the third period. Dalyn Flette made a couple of huge saves on Fehr and Glennie on the odd man rush but the trailer Lewadniuk put in the third chance. The see-saw battle continued .

The Oil Kings final surge started just a couple of minutes later as the two best players on Edmonton's roster kept buzzing. Jeff Lee and Tomas Vincour did a lot of the work on the fourth goal with some pressure in the offensive zone. A blocked shot ended up on the stick of Brent Raedeke who had a head of steam sliding across the high slot. Raedeke's 4th of the year tied the game at 4.

Lee and Vincour connected again a few minutes later. Tyler Hlookoff made a nice play to keep alive in the Wheat Kings zone and slid the puck ahead for Lee. The 20 year old didn't waste any time flipping a backhand on net that was tipped neatly by Vincour for his 3rd goal of the season. Things were looking good for the home team.

The Wheat Kings had a long bus ride waiting for them after the game and they weren't about to give up that easy. The league's second best powerplay finally connected on their 5th try. Nathan Green scored his second of the year on a nice re-direct shot. Matt Calvert took the initial shot and Jay Fehr picked up the second assist to cap off his 4 point night.

20 year old defenseman Matt McCue took his second and most costly penalty of the game with just 6 seconds to go in regulation when Craig McCallum tried to slip by him for a late scoring chance. McCue grabbed on for a holding minor setting up a 4 on 3 powerplay for the Oil Kings in overtime.

A 3 on 2 rush at 1:38 of extra time sealed it. Jeff Lee gained the Brandon zone and dropped a pass for Breitkreuz. He picked the top corner with the perfect wrist shot for his second game winning goal of the season. Brent Raedeke also picked up a helper on the play and Edmonton earned the much needed win.

The Oil Kings record improves to 5-5-1-0 while the Wheat Kings slip to 5-4-1-0. Next up on this 6 game home stand for Edmonton will be a visit from the Regina Pats on Wednesday night. It's the first Weiner Wednesday of the season with $2 hot dogs all night and Oilers fans should be out to see 1st round NHL draft pick Jordan Eberle lace them up for the Pats.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2008


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