RECAP: Oil Kings hop in the win column on Opening Night
Photo courtesy: Red Deer Rebels
Red Deer, AB – The Edmonton Oil Kings opened their 2023-24 regular season with a thrilling 4-2 win over the Red Deer Rebels at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
In a first period that saw the Oil Kings end up shorthanded four times, they would still find a way to get the games opening goal. On a rush into the Red Deer zone, John Szabo pulled the trigger on a low shot from the left-circle that rebounded perfectly off the left-pad of Rebels netminder Kyle Kelsey to a hard-driving Marshall Finnie who shoveled the puck into the top shelf at the 6:42 mark.
The Oil Kings penalty troubles would finally catch up to them with just over five minutes left in the period after Kai Uchacz pounded home a one-timer from the left-circle on Red Deer’s fourth man-advantage of the period.
Late in the period, the Oil Kings had a glorious opportunity to restore their lead as on a three-on-two rush into the Rebels zone, the two Red Deer defenders collided with one another putting Finnie in on a two-on-nothing rush with Kian Bell but as the two worked a give-and-go play, Kelsey came up with a fabulous left-skate save.
In the second period, the Oil Kings were able to quickly reestablish their lead after Aidan Litke collected his first goal as an Oil King as he took a pass along the goal line of the Red Deer zone from Adam Jecho, walked it towards the net and feathered a backhand shot under the left-arm of Kelsey. With his assist on the goal, Jecho recorded his first career WHL point.
The Oil Kings outshot the Rebels in the second period putting 12 shots on the Red Deer net, while Kolby Hay stood tall in the Edmonton crease stopping all 11 shots he saw from the home side sending his team to the intermission with a one-goal lead.
In the third period, the Rebels would press early for an equalizer, but the Oil Kings played a sound defensive game to maintain their lead until late in the third period when they would grab a little breathing room courtesy a power play goal from Kian Bell, his first WHL goal, after he pounced on a rebound off a Parker Alcos point-shot.
The Rebels did get one goal back with just over two minutes left in the third period courtesy a Carson Latimer goal at six-on-five but it was quickly answered by an empty-net goal from Litke, his second of the night and third point.
Hay was brilliant in the Edmonton crease turning aside 36 of the 38 shots he faced, while Kelsey was saddled with loss making 29 saves. The Oil Kings went 1-for-6 on the power play, the Rebels were 1-for-8.
The Oil Kings and Rebels are back at it tomorrow night at Rogers Place for the Oil Kings 2023-24 Home Opener at 7:00 P.M.
The Edmonton Oil Kings next home game is their 2023-24 Home Opener tomorrow, Saturday, September 23 at 7:00 P.M. when they take on the Red Deer Rebels at Rogers Place.
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