Day two of a home back-to-back stint the Edmonton Oil Kings faced the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Oil Kings were coming off of a big win against Prince Albert in front of a sold out crown, while Lethbridge was also playing their second of a back-to-back, also coming off of a win over Victoria. The Oil Kings (6-19-2-0) started rookie netminder Boston Bilous, while the Hurricanes (13-13-1-0) started Reece Klassen.
Edmonton came out hot in the first 20, applying pressure on Lethbridge’s defenders early and found a way to strike first. Colton Kehler’s shot from a bad angle squeaks by Reece Klassen. Brian Harris earned his first WHL assist on the play. Edmonton’s Kobe Mohr left the game shortly before after receiving a puck to the face on an errant dump in, did not return and seemed to be in a lot of pain. Edmonton struck again, this time Brian Harris scored his first WHL goal on a pass off the rush from Kehler, Harris drove hard to the net and had his stick in an effective spot to put it by Klassen. Lethbridge cut the lead in half though late in the period on a power play. Taylor Ross streaked down the wing and rifled the puck by the blocker of Bilous. Final shots in the first were 11-6 for Edmonton.
Lethbridge took over in the second, scoring just five minutes into the frame on the power play once again by Taylor Ross. Lethbridge just continued to pour on the shots and found ways to score. Jordy Bellerive scores his 16th of the season around the mid-way point of the frame on an elevated shot in front of the net that was questioned by the refs at first but proved to be a goal for Bellerive. Just two minutes later, rookie Dylan Cozens continues to add to his productive season with a rebound goal in front, his eighth of the season. Late in the frame Lethbridge continued to score on the power play with back to back goals from Giorgio Estephan and Jordy Bellerive. Estaphan finished today’s game with six points (1G-5A). Shots at the end of the period were 25-16 for Lethbridge.
Edmonton continued to struggle in the third period, Zane Franklin scored his tenth of the season off a tipped shot in front. Edmonton couldn’t generate anything past the first and the final score were 7-2 for Lethbridge, shots ended as 38-20 for the Hurricanes.
Game Notes:
-Edmonton came out hot, kept the puck moving in the offensive zone and took over the game. At one point the shots were 9-2 Edmonton and they were up 2-0. The second and third however showed massive struggles and they couldn’t get back to that productive first period play. They only generated nine shots in that final two frames.
-Carter Souch was one of the guys who actually did impress me on the Oil Kings. He seems to think the game so well on both ends of the rink and has been an effective outlet option in transition. He has posted two assists in the three games he has affiliated with Edmonton.
-Giorgio Estephan had six points in tonight’s game while Calen Addison had five assists himself in what was a productive game for Lethbridge. Dylan Cozens also posted two points, not eligible till the 2019 NHL draft but already making a buzz around draft fans.
