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Edmonton Oil Kings

Raiders Rally To Rule Oil Kings 5-2

March 11, 2011 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


Prince Albert, SK - The Edmonton Oil Kings were poised for victory with a 2-1 lead over the Prince Albert Raiders after 20 minutes on Friday at the Art Hauser Centre, but the home side scored four unanswered goals over the final two periods to emerge with a 5-2 win.

Travis Ewanyk banged in a rebound off a Raiders defender and Michael St. Croix blasted a wrist shot from just over the blue line to put the Oil Kings up 2-1 in the first period, with Austin Connor tallying the lone Prince Albert goal.

But a rough middle frame for the Oil Kings resulted in three Raiders goals to put the home team up 4-2, and Brandon Herrod scored an empty-netter with 17 seconds left in the third to seal the victory.

Connor, Herrod, Justin Maylan and Jonathan Parker each had two-point games for the Raiders, while Klarc Wilson, Mike Piluso and Dylan Wruck picked up assists on the two Oil Kings goals. Jon Groenheyde surrendered four goals on 30 shots between the Oil Kings pipes, while Prince Albert goalie Jamie Tucker made 23 saves, including 12 in the third period.

The defeat dropped the Oil Kings below the .500 mark at 30-31-2-5 for 67 points, with four games left on their regular season schedule. They also fell to seventh place in the Eastern Conference, as the Brandon Wheat Kings are now in sixth with 68 points, thanks to a 4-3 overtime win over the Saskatoon Blades also on Friday.

The Oil Kings will have redemption on their minds when they play the second half of their two-game Saskatchewan road trip on Saturday night in Saskatoon against the league-leading Blades. Edmonton needs to earn at least one point - or Lethbridge must lose its game against Medicine Hat - to clinch a playoff spot on Saturday.

The next Oil Kings home game is Tuesday against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and it's Win-Win Night at Rexall Place. If the Oil Kings defeat the Hurricanes, everyone in attendance is invited to attend the final home game of the regular season on Friday, March 18 against the Red Deer Rebels for free. The final game is Fan Appreciation Night and Shirts Off Our Backs Night.

Tickets to every Oil Kings home game are available starting at just $15 at any Ticketmaster outlet, online at oilkings.ca, or by calling 780-414-GOAL (4625).

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2011


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