Oil Kings take first home win in a shootout
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Foster, Gernat and Brossoit lead Oil Kings to 2-1 Shootout win
Edmonton, AB - The Edmonton Oil Kings struggled out of the gates but came up big when it counted as they took two points in a 2-1 shootout victory over the Kootenay Ice Wednesday night at Rexall Place. Kootenay started off with a disallowed goal early on in the period as a flipped puck from behind the net looked to took a bounce off the Ice player's hand. After the disallowed goal Edmonton fell behind as Max Reinhart won the first round of the "battle of the brothers" as he opened the scoring for the Ice just past the midway point of the period. All three of the Reinhart's suited up for this WHL matchup - Griffin for the Oil Kings as well as Max and Sam for the Ice. The Oil Kings had some push back after a slow start but were unable to connect on a pair of first period power plays.
Edmonton would press in the second but to no avail as the score would remain 1-0 despite some good chances including a shot off the post. Slovak Martin Gernat threw down an early candidate for plays of the week with an old school hip check but the score still remained 1-0 with Edmonton going 0 for 6 on the power play to that point.
The host team would then have to battle in the third to kill off a five minute power play off a major to Griffin Reinhart. After a successful kill the Oil showed some spark as 94-born Mitch Moroz took on all 6'5" 212 pounds of Mike Simpson. Moroz gave as good as he got and the Oil Kings tried to rally behind the effort. Finally, it was the Oil Kings two leading scorers who put the home side on the board just past the 7 minute mark as TJ Foster scooped up a bounce off the boards from a Martin Gernat shot to tally the equalizer on the power play. Foster continues to lead all Kings forwards in scoring with three goals and 2 assists while the rookie Gernat continues to streak, leading all Oil Kings in scoring with eight points over five games this season.
The game would remain deadlocked as the Oil Kings went into their third OT period of the young season. Goaltender Laurent Brossoit made some great saves to send the game to shootout. It was then that TJ Foster continued to have the hot hand, scoring on Edmonton's first attempt to immediately put the pressure on the Kootenay shooters. Both Reinhart brothers would miss on their attempts for Kootenay while Gernat scored his second highlight of the night on a nifty forehand to one-handed backhand tally to take home the 2-1 shootout win for the home squad - their first home win of the season. The win gives the Oil Kings a 2-1-1-1 record which is good enough for six points and second place in the Central division behind the Kootenay Ice.
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The Oil Kings will now depart on a grueling 5-game in 6 day road trip with stops in Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Swift Current, Lethbridge and Kootenay. It all kicks of Friday from the brand new Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Puck Drop is set for 7PM - remember that all games this season will be broadcast live on the TEAM 1260 and streamed live at WHL.ca.
The Oil Kings will return to Rexall Place on Friday, October 14th in a match up against the surprising Regina Pats. Oil Kings hockey is Edmonton’s best family entertainment value. The 2011-12 season features new reduced pricing with great seats starting at just $15 and premium seating locations starting at just $20. Oil Kings tickets are available online at OilKings.ca, via phone at 780-414-GOAL or at any Ticketmaster outlet.
