The two bottom seeded teams in the league face off in Edmonton in a battle for number one position in the Bantam Draft. The Calgary Hitmen (19-35-7-2) come in riding a three-game losing streak, while the Edmonton Oil Kings (19-37-6-2) rode a five-game losing streak of their own. Both teams have been struggling with young, developing teams. Josh Dechaine got another start for Edmonton, while Nick Schneider got the nod for Calgary.
A weak start to the game for the Oil Kings allow for numerous opportunities on the part of the Calgary Hitmen, who still struggled to get one by Josh Dechaine until Zach Huber got a pass in the slot and buried it past the Oil Kings keeper. Edmonton turned it on late in the frame after a power play opportunity and were able to get the puck moving in the offensive zone and generate some scoring chances. Final shots after 20 were 15-9 in favour of Calgary.
The second period was a bit more competitive on both sides. The Oil Kings were able to apply some pressure throughout the frame. Calgary was able to strike first however. A loose puck bobbled over to Jake Kryski who put it five hole on Dechaine. The Hitmen would increase their lead shortly after. Riley Stukel got free from the Oil Kings defenders, and buried it in front on the breakaway (this would later lead to a goaltender interference penalty for Stukel). Edmonton did get on the board late on a short handed goal by Trey Fix-Wolansky. He was sent alone on a breakaway and put it over the glove-side pad of Schneider. Tempers would flare but no fights took place. The score after the second was 3-1 for Calgary with shots being 23-19 also in favour of the Hitmen.
Edmonton found a way to tie the game up in the third, starting with a goal early by Kobe Mohr who found a loose puck in the crease and finished it. Tomas Soustal would tie the game late with a deflection on a Trey Fix-Wolansky point shot. The game would head to overtime with the score being 3-3 and Calgary leading in shots 29-28.
Edmonton started the OT period on the power play, and would end the game on their first shot on goal. Captain Colton Kehler one-timed home a pass from Trey-Fix Wolansky.
Game Notes:
- The Oil Kings took their time to heat up but showed resilience in the latter half of the game, clawing back from a 3-0 deficit. The Oil Kings physical play set the tempo leading into the third as Calgary sat back managing only six shots in the third, and 14 through two. Edmonton outshot Calgary 19-14 through the final two periods. Shots finished 29 apiece.
- Edmonton’s blue line exceeded expectations throughout tonight’s matchup as all six defenders contributed in their own way. Brayden Gorda seems to have found his groove as we saw glimpses of what he was capable of last season in his ability to shutdown opposing forwards. It’s been a difficult run for Gorda, but he’s shown some positive signs of improvement.
- The Hitmen defensive core showed well chemistry wise as the duos of Schmiemann/Krebs and Zamula/Yeryomenko were effective at both ends of the ice tonight. Their current core includes three 99-born players, three 00-born players, as well as ’01 first rounder Jackson van de Leest, and top prospect Luke Prokop coming into the mix. The Hitmen will be strong on the back end for a few years.
- Vancouver Canucks draft pick Jakob Stukel was the team’s best forward tonight, netting his 32nd of the year on a powerful breakaway finish. Stukel has a versatile toolset and given his quickness and puck skill it will be interesting to watch his transition to pro hockey next season.
