Cam Tait Recaps Oil Kings Game 4 Win Over Raiders
Written by: Cam Tait
Edmonton, Alta. – Fifty-one years ago, Bachman Turner Overdrive released the toe-tapper, Takin’ Care of Business. So, we have to wonder if the tune was playing Wednesday around the Edmonton Oil Kings – both in the dressing room and the executive offices.
In the day, the Oil Kings were notified they are one of three Western Hockey League Eastern Conference teams nominated for the league’s business award. Then, a few hours later on Rogers Place ice, Edmonton beat the Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 in Game 4 of the opening round of the playoffs.
The Oil Kings head east to Prince Albert for Game 5 Friday, leading the best-of-seven series 3-1.
From the Let-me-scratch-my-head-and-go-get-some-popcorn department the Oil Kings, who went into Wednesday’s game, had 116 shots in the series. One hundred shots. In three games: 40 in Game 1, 43 in Game 2 and, last night, 33. Over 9 periods of hockey, we’re talking 12 shots a period.
But, sorry, Oil Kings fans – not Wednesday. The Raiders out shot Edmonton 8-4 in the first period and went on to outshoot the Oil Kings 32-20 over 60 minutes — the first time they had more shots. Ok, let’s talk … shots. The game’s first shot came with 8 minutes remaining in the first period and Edmonton made it count. Lukas Sawchyn took a cross-ice pass from Parker Alcos and, somehow, got his stick on the puck. But the puck wasn’t the only thing to go past P.A. goaltender Max Hildebrand. Sawchyn slammed into the boards and was taken to the dressing room.
It seemed the 1-0 cushion fit like a glove for the Oil Kings. They increased their lead over the Raiders looking like a different hockey club than they were in the first 20 minutes. They were sharp. Looked energized. And it paid off on the scoreboard … early. Barely a minute into the second frame captain Gavin Hodnett picked up the first of two points on the night. 2-0 Oil Kings. A little more than 3 ½ minutes later, Adam Jecho scored his first goal of the playoffs on the power play. They took a 3-0 lead into the second period break.
It wasn’t a deep dark secret the Raiders would come out in the third period with everything, and they did, scoring a pair of goals in a seven-minute span in the final half of the third period. That set up a hang-on-to-your-Oil-Kings hat — they’re pretty cool, you know – for the last 90 seconds. But Edmonton goalie Ethan Simcoe held his ground, and blocker, tightly for the win.
Game 5 goes Friday in Prince Albert.
