Young Oil Kings fight back in overtime loss to Tigers
Improving Edmonton squad rallies from two-goal deficit in third period
For a while, it appeared as though a slight lapse in concentration was going to cost the Edmonton Oil Kings dearly.
And by slight, it was a whole 11 seconds.
Yet, in an indication of how far the Oil Kings have come this season, the young club was able to battle back from a two-goal, third period deficit to earn a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday at Rogers Place.
Colton Kehler, David Kope and Tomas Soustal scored for the Oil Kings, who are heading out on a six-game road trip starting Friday against the Saskatoon Blades.
Oil Kings goaltender Josh Dechaine made 36 saves in his first start since the high-flying Swift Current Broncos pumped six past him in a 9-1 defeat on Jan. 13.
Tigers defenceman Kristans Rubins scored the winner 1:03 into the three-on-three overtime session, taking a long rebound off the end boards and firing it past Dechaine.
Ryan Jevne, Dalton Gally and Josh Williams also scored for Medicine Hat, who currently lead the WHL Central Division standings.
Goaltender Jordan Hollett made 27 saves for Medicine Hat, who snapped a four-game losing skid.
The Oil Kings took the lead on the power play with just over five minutes left in the first period. Kehler took a cross-ice pass from Trey Fix-Wolansky and wired a shot past Hollett into the open side of the net.
Edmonton played well in the first period, outshooting the Tigers 10-9 in the frame.
They also started the second period well, but then got into penalty trouble, which has been an issue this season.
Brayden Gorda took a holding penalty early in the period, which gave the Tigers some momentum.
Kope was then assessed a slashing penalty at 12:49 of the second, which led to the tying goal.
Jevne scored 14 seconds into the power play, firing a one-timer from the left faceoff circle past Dechaine on a feed from David Quenneville.
The Tigers kept the pressure up through the rest of the period, but due to the play of Dechaine, it appeared as though Edmonton would be able to withstand the surge and get into the second intermission tied.
Dechaine made an outstanding save on Gary Haden on a breakaway with 1:38 left in the period.
However, Galley scored 12 seconds later on a shot from the left faceoff circle, which deflected off the stick of Soustal in front.
Before they could announce the Tigers’ go-ahead goal, Medicine Hat scored again as Williams took a pass in front from Baxter Anderson and snapped a shot past Dechaine.
The Oil Kings were outshot 21-8 in the second period.
Soustal had an excellent opportunity to redeem himself in the third period, when he was able to collect the puck on the penalty kill and head out on a breakaway.
He was unable to get a shot off as he was wrapped up by Tigers forward James Hamblin, but was awarded a penalty shot. He was unable to convert, however, stopped by Hollett as he tried to lift a backhand past the Tigers goaltender.
The penalty shot seemed to inspire the Oil Kings.
Kehler had an excellent opportunity with nine minutes remaining, busting in off the right wing, but was unable to lift his backhand shot over Hollett.
Kope cut the lead to 3-2 with 8:06 left in the third period, getting to a loose puck off a scramble in front and lifting a shot over Hollett.
While he didn’t get an assist on the play, Oil Kings forward Jantzen Leslie helped create the opportunity by bowling over two Tigers defencemen, allowing Kope to get to the puck.
Soustal tied the game with 5:25 left in the period with the teams playing four-on-four. Hollett knocked down a point shot, then as the Hollett tried to poke the puck away from the front of the net, Soustal was able to get to it and sweep it into the net.