Slow start does in Oil Kings
The Edmonton Oil Kings dug themselves a hole too big to climb out of Friday against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Three first-period goals by Brandon were too much to overcome for the Oil Kings in a 7-3 loss at Rogers Place.
Brett Kemp, Matthew Robertson and Trey Fix-Wolansky scored for the Oil Kings, while Ty Lewis, Linden McCorrister, Kale Clague, with a hat trick, Gunnar Wegleitner and Stelio Mattheos, countered for the Wheat Kings.
“We only gave up 22 shots, which is pretty good, but seven goals against and they were all in pretty prime-time areas, right in the house, the heart of our defence, and that’s a choice and the guys know it,” said Oil Kings head coach Steve Hamilton. “If the guys aren’t willing to be gritty and defend hard, then you’re just not going to out-score your mistakes. “Spotting them a lead like that, then you’re just chasing the game.”
Lewis, McCorrister, and Clague scored in the first period, which chased starting goaltender Travis Child.
Lewis opened the scoring eight minutes into the first period on a goal which probably should have been waved off. Lewis drove to the net and was knocked down in the slot, but stayed with the play and forced the puck through Child’s pad. The goal was reviewed and replays revealed Lewis kicked the puck through Child while on his knees. Regardless, the goal stood.
Just over two minutes later, McCorrister increased Brandon’s lead, tipping a point shot from Garrett Sambrook past Child.
Clague scored with 2.8 seconds left in the frame to give Brandon a three-goal lead, taking a pass in the slot and wiring a shot past Child.
“You never want to end a period like that on a tough note,” said Oil Kings forward Colton Kehler. “We came out in the second and came out really hard and that’s a positive we’re going to take out of the game.”
Child was pulled in the intermission and replaced by Boston Bilous. Child finished with six saves on the night.
Wegleitner increased Brandon’s lead to 4-0 midway through the second, collecting a puck deep in the left faceoff circle and lifting a sharp-angle shot over the shoulder of Bilous.
Kemp pulled one back for the Oil Kings with 6:45 left in the second, taking the puck around the net on a rush and banking in a wraparound on goaltender Logan Thompson.
Robertson cut Brandon’s lead to 4-2, taking a puck off the boards and throwing it toward the net where it hit the stick of Wheat Kings defenceman Schael Higson and bounced in past Thompson.
Brandon made it 5-2 when Stelio Mattheos took a pass in front following turnover behind the net and fired a shot past Bilous.
Fix-Wolansky pulled one back midway through the period to cut the lead to 5-3 snapping a shot past Thompson. Just over five minutes later, however, Clague restored the three-goal lead on the power play.
“That’s really disappointing,” Hamilton said. “Disappointing all around in that. Killing penalties has been a struggle and you put yourself in a position where you have to kill one. It’s a decision and it’s a decision that really puts our team, collectively, at a huge disadvantage.”
Clague then added an empty-net goal to complete his hat trick.
The Oil Kings host the Everett Silvertips (4 p.m.) on Sunday.