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Oil Kings Hockey: Where Anthems Don’t Get Boo’d

On January 26th the schedule maker had the Oil Kings face a tired Lethbridge Hurricanes team, having played three games in the three nights, and lost. Fast forward 6 days later, the Oil Kings with two games played while the Hurricanes rested and a late arrival in Lethbridge, not only beat but shut out the Hurricanes.

The two games in the middle where tough losses against the Calgary Hitmen. Not a lot went right in Calgary during a 6-0 loss including a couple of "take back the momentum" moments that backfired. Jack Toogood took the Ottawa Senators 2024 first round draft pick Carter Yakemcuk to the penalty box with him for seven minutes plus the team started the second period with a 3:48 remaining on a powerplay. Nada! Later in the period, Mr. Goalpost made a save on a Hitmen penalty shot then they promptly scored.

The return match in Edmonton saw the penalty bug hit the Oil Kings. The team spent the last 6 minutes of the first period shorthanded due to three successive penalties. Ten seconds after killing off another penalty in the second, yet another penalty was taken. An overworked penalty killing unit gave up a goal thirteen seconds into that minor. Somewhat strangely, this 3-goal deficit felt very different from Wednesday. The Czech Mates, Adam Jecho and Miroslav Holinka, would score 2:29 apart to make the game 3-2. Goaltender Alex Worthington would make a couple great saves but the victory lap was not meant to be.

At visitlethbrige.com arena, the visiting Oil Kings desperately needed an early goal. Enter Cole Miller with his 16th of the season at the 3:58 mark assisted by Marshall Finnie. Finnie scored the only other goal of the game. Ethan Simcoe, who had collected his first shutout against Moose Jaw on January 18th, made 35 saves to collect his second shutout of his young career. Eight (8!) of those stops came against the Hurricanes leading scorer Logan Wormald.

This Weekend's Schedule

The hat-trick of games in a short span of time against the Calgary Hitmen completes on Friday in Calgary. The interesting topic of conversation leading up to the game is who gets the start in net. Worthington, 9th in the WHL in save percentage, got the two starts last week adding to the two previous starts earlier in the season against Calgary combining for a 1W-3L record. Simcoe has a 4-1 loss against the Hitmen on his record but has given up 2 or less goals in his last 6 appearances.

Beloved Oil Kings mascot Louie is having his birthday party on Saturday as the Oil Kings welcome back the Moose Jaw Warriors. Edmonton have outscored Moose Jaw 12-1 through their two meetings so far this season. Jecho leads the offensive barrage against the Warriors with 3 goals and 3 assists. Holinka and Lukas Sawchyn both have 3 goals and 2 assists against the last place team in the league.

Standings and playoffs

Glass half full the Oil Kings can move into a position in which they would the start the playoffs at Rogers Place. Glass half empty the Club enters the playoffs as the eight seed. Boasting the 4th best penalty kill in the league and allowing the 5th fewest goals feeds the positive. Let's see how a poll in the the Oil Kings Nation 3.0 Facebook Group (LINK) feels about where the Club will finish the regular season in the standings:

Have your say in the comment!

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