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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Oil Kings Win 8th Straight

February 2, 2014 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Edmonton, AB - The chess-match continues between Mitch Moroz and Curtis Lazar.

Moroz scored twice and Lazar had one of his own Saturday night to once again tie for the Edmonton Oil Kings goal lead with 29 as Edmonton (37-13-0-1) downed the Medicine Hat Tigers (29-19-3-0) 5-1 in Medicine Hat for the team's eighth straight victory and 14th in its last 15 games.

Lazar grabbed the goal lead Friday night with the opening goal against Tri-City, but Moroz tied it back up with Edmonton's first goal Saturday. Lazar scored in the third to retake the lead, but that lasted exactly eight minutes before Moroz equalized again with his second of the night. Whether it has been together or on separate lines, the Oil Kings duo just keeps finding the back of the net.

But Edmonton also had a deep performance tonight, as the third and fourth lines generated plenty of scoring chances. Brandon Ralph picked up his fifth goal of the season and third game-winner, while Reid Petryk scored shorthanded in his first game in Medicine Hat since being traded from the Tiger to Everett two seasons ago.

"We got contributions from everybody tonight, and they were a benefit of a lot of hard work from linemates," said Oil Kings head coach Derek Laxdal.

The Tigers got off to a hot start Saturday as Henrik Samuelsson was whistled for a high-stick right off the opening faceoff. Medicine Hat pressured hard on the power play, and Curtis Valk put them up 1-0 shortly after the penalty expired as Medicine Hat opened the game outshooting Edmonton 9-1.

From there on, however, it was all Oil Kings as they finished with a 27-26 advantage on the shot clock and scored five unanswered goals.

"We took a penalty right off the hop, and they got a lot of energy right off, but I thought we settled in about halfway through the first," Laxdal said. "I thought we carried the game after that."

Tristan Jarry made 25 saves for his league-leading 33rd win of the season for the Oil Kings, and came up big throughout the early Tigers push.

"Tristan was outstanding in the first 10 minutes when they were pushing on that power play," Laxdal said.

Cody Corbett picked up three assists on the night and now has 47 points on the year, fourth among WHL defencemen. Lazar and Petryk each had a pair of points while Henrik Samuelsson extended his scoring streak to five games with an assist.

The Oil Kings will be back in action Wednesday as they continue their four-game road trip with a stop in Kamloops to face the Blazers.

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