WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Rare Visit by Chiefs Ends in Rare Home Loss for Oil Kings

March 5, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


If losses teach lessons, then the Edmonton Oil Kings stand to learn a lot from their one and only meeting against the Spokane Chiefs this season.

The Chiefs (38-18-4-1) exploded for a four-goal second period en route to handing the Oil Kings (41-11-6-4) a humbling 6-2 loss in front of 5,441 fans at Rogers Place on Wednesday night.

It marked just the second time this season the Oil Kings were tagged for six goals in a game, the other back on November 5 vs. the Prince Albert Raiders in a 6-3 loss.

Tonight's game was just the fourth regulation loss on home ice for the Oil Kings this season.

The game also signaled the final time Edmonton would face an opponent outside their division, as their final six games of the regular season [Swift Current, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge (x2), Red Deer (x2)] each come against Central Division foes.

Sebastian Cossa (21-5-2-1) suffered the loss in goal despite making 34 saves in his first game action since February 25.

Lukas Parik (20-7-2-0) was awarded the win, allowing two goals on 27 shots.

It was a night that was circled on the calendar of one Oil King in particular, as 20-year-old Ethan McIndoe faced off against his former team for the first time in his five-year WHL career after being acquired from Spokane in September. McIndoe dressed as a member of the Chiefs for 286 regular season and playoff games, combined, from 2015-19.

The Chiefs thought they opened the game's scoring in the early stages of the first frame, but the puck deflected off the mask of Cossa before finding the back of the net, so it was ruled no goal.

Instead it was the Oil Kings who took the first lead of the game, as a loose puck in the Chiefs crease was pounced on by Wyatt McLeod for his third of the season - and second in his last three games - giving Edmonton a 1-0 lead at 14:40, from Dylan Guenther and Jake Neighbours.

It was the lone goal of the first period, which saw Spokane control shots, 14-9.

In the second the ice tilted in the Chiefs' favour, as they tied the game, 1-1, on Luke Toporowski's 28thof the season at 4:03, then took a 2-1 lead just over a minute later from the stick of Owen MacNeil at 5:10.

Two minutes later they added to their lead, making it 3-1 on Leif Mattson's 20th of the campaign, then the second period onslaught continued at 9:34 as Jack Finley rounded out the Spokane offence in the middle frame.

Shots on goal in the period heavily favoured Spokane, 15-6, for a two-period total of 29-15.

In the third, the Oil Kings cut the Chiefs lead in half, making it 4-2 after Vladimir Alistrov tipped a Samuel Stewart shot from the right point at 8:21, but it was as close as the home team would come to closing the gap as the visitors added another pair; Finley's second of the game at 13:41, and Noah King's sixth of the season at 19:33 to secure the 6-2 final.

The Oil Kings equaled the Chiefs' shots on goal in the third period, 12-12, but were outshot 41-27 on the night.

Spokane was 1-for-4 on the power play, while Edmonton was 0-for-2 with the man advantage.

Adam Beckman (SPO) (3), Luke Toporowski (SPO) (2), and Jack Finley (SPO) (1) were selected as the Three Stars of the Game.

Wyatt McLeod, Matthew Robertson and Ethan Cap each wore an "A" and skated as alternates to captain Scott Atkinson.

Before puck drop, Ethan McIndoe was awarded the Blue Willow Restaurant/Vic Mah Trophy as Unsung Hero for the month of February.

Head Coach Brad Lauer was absent during Wednesday's game due to illness.

The Oil Kings are back in action on home ice on Friday, March 6 when they host the Swift Current Broncos for Superhero Night at 7:00 PM MT.

EOK365 Season Seat Memberships, 8-Ticket & 18-Game Flex Packs and single game tickets are available for every Edmonton Oil Kings game this season, with single game tickets starting as low as just $20 per seat! Call 780-414-GOAL (4625) or email sales@oilkings.ca for more information.

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