The Edmonton Oil Kings entered their second home game without a win this season. Travis Child once again got the start and stopped 25 of 31, while Oilers draft pick Stuart Skinner got the nod for the Lethbridge Hurricanes turning away 28 of 35. They would get that win behind three assists from Ty Gerla and two goals and an assist by Colton Kehler.
Lethbridge started the scoring early with a Dylan Cozens power play goal just over two minutes into the game. The goal came on a brilliant set up by the PP quarterback Calen Addison to create to scoring chance. Mid-way through the first, the Oil Kings got on the board on a long delayed call. Will Warm got a shot through from the point over the glove of Skinner. They continued to build off that goal, getting on the board once again with Nick Bowman finding a shooting lane to the net from the outside that tipped off Addison’s stick and got past Skinner on the power play. A tonne of PP chances for the Oil Kings let them be ahead after the first with the shots 10-8 in Lethbridge’s favor.
Edmonton started the second with a short power play opportunity but failed to capitalize. Just seven minutes in they found themselves on the board once again with a Colton Kehler goal. It came off a great set up from behind the net by Kemp and a lucky bounce off Skinner’s stick led to the easy tap in for Kehler. The Oil Kings continued their production as Bowman got his second of the game on the power play with a tip in the slot from a Conner McDonald bomb. Skinner seemed to be in some discomfort after the goal but remained in the game. Lethbridge get themselves back in it with a goal from Shawn Harke on a lucky tip in from the slot area that got past Child. This pulled the ‘Canes within two. They continued to get back in the game, as Merezhko got a beautiful wrist shot off from the point that was labeled for the top corner.
Down by one going into the third frame, the Hurricanes were the first to get on the board. Cozens got his second of the game on the side of the net off a wide shot generated by Koletrane Wilson. They scored once again to go up 5-4 on the Oil Kings, their first lead of the game since early in the first. Bellerive notched a PP goal midway through the game making it four unanswered goals by Lethbridge. The Oil Kings got one back 2:59 later as Trey Fix-Wolansky scored from the side of the net on a bad angle shot that got by Skinner. They scored once again as Scott Atkinson buried a shot in front off a creative play from Ty Gerla. The goal was Atkinson’s first in the WHL. An insurance goal that they would need was added by the Oil Kings as Colton Kehler buried one in front to put them up 7-5. New arrival to Lethbridge, Jack Flanman added a goal late but it was not enough as Edmonton held on for the 7-6, thrilling win. Final shots were 35-31 for the Oil Kings.
Game Notes:
Many guys impressed today for the Oil Kings, their defensive core seemed to find a way to contribute offensively and their power play was effective when it needed to be. The chemistry between Ty Gerla and Brett Kemp really flourished and a guy like Nicholas Bowman, I feel will be a great addition to that line. Matthew Robertson continues to get comfortable with the WHL game and played big minutes tonight. Will Warm showed the signs of a highly productive WHL defender, both on the power play and at even strength. Stuart Skinner showed me today he is very raw, at the beginning of the game he looked good; more square to the shooter and challenging at the top of the crease. As the game wore on and the goals kept coming, it seemed he went back to what he was comfortable with, deep in his own net and slugged over. His confidence in playing the puck has evidently improved and he his angles weren’t bad. I would love to see him stick with what he had going at the beginning. Calen Addison stood out early; his mobility and puck moving are phenomenal. He has improved his position in the offensive and defensive zone.
