Fantastic B.C. Finale
Prince George, B.C. – The Edmonton Oil Kings had something to prove and they definitely made a statement finishing off their swing through the province of B.C. with a 5 – 0 win over the Prince George Cougars. Alex Archibald made 29 saves for his 3rd shutout of the season and the Oil Kings set a team record firing 50 shots at Cougars goalie Real Cyr. The team showed tremendous pride and determination coming out with one of their best performances of the year 2 days after being embarrassed by the defending Memorial Cup Champions in Vancouver.
r
The Oil Kings would open the scoring early on with more production from one of their hottest lines in recent games. Brenden Dowd picked up his 4th goal in 5 games just 2:48 into the contest with line mates Jeff Lee and Tomas Vincour both picking up assists to make it 1 – 0. Dowd is up to 15 goals this season.
r
You knew it was Edmonton’s night when they went ahead about 5 minutes later courtesy of a shorthanded goal from another hot hand in Brennan Sonne. The Maple Ridge, B.C. native scored the second short handed goal of the season for the Oil Kings and notched his 3rd goal in his last 4 games.
r
Right after the Cougars powerplay expired, Edmonton would get a chance to add to their lead with a powerplay of their own. Brent Raedeke would convert with his 14th goal of the year. Jeff Lee and Brenden Dowd picked up their second points of the game and the Oil Kings were in complete control.
r
Sonne added his 9th of the season before the period was through with Raedeke and Shayne Neigum picking up the helpers. It was all Edmonton in the opening 20 minutes. They tied a record for most shots in a first period with 16 and held the Cougars to just 8 and fully deserved their 4 – 0 lead.
r
It didn’t get any better for Prince George to start the second period. They were already a man down when Kalvin Sagert fired a clearing attempt over the glass and was assessed a delay of game penalty giving the Oil Kings a 5 on 3 powerplay in the process.
r
It took them 34 seconds to convert. Craig McCallum who was previously decked from behind in the corner earlier in his shift, gathered himself and worked his way to the net just in time to bury a rebound off a Cameron Cepek point shot. Tomas Vincour picked up his second assist of the night and it was 5 – 0.
r
Edmonton begins and ends their road trip through the B.C. Division with shutout victories after Dalyn Flette earned his first shutout victory of the season against his old team in Kamloops. The Oil Kings record improves to 20 – 31 – 4 – 7 while the Cougars record slips to 17 – 41 – 1 – 3.
r
The Oil Kings return home to play the number 1 team in the Western Hockey League when the Tri-City Americans make their one and only visit to Rexall Place on Wednesday February 27th.
