Let’s be honest, after an absolutely incredible start to the 2019-2020 WHL Regular Season, the Edmonton Oil Kings looked poised to improve on last seasons WHL Eastern Conference Finals appearance. However, a three-game slide before a five-game road trip out west in British Columbia tampered some expectations. If you weren’t able to follow along with the Oil Kings. We’ll be giving very quick cliff notes of every game on the trip.
In what more than likely would be one of the most important road trips of the year, the Oil Kings started it off on a positive note.
Prince George (Oil Kings 3 – Cougars 2)
Despite an absolutely stunning show by Prince George Cougars goaltender Taylor Gauthier in the first period and for the whole game for that matter as he had 33 saves on 36 shots. Edmonton would escape with a win in Prince George as Neighbours, Kope and Matthew Robertson would find the back of the net. All of the goals would happen in the first 40 minutes of this game and Edmonton would start their road trip off with a win over the Cougars in a game in which they deserve to win from the drop of the puck, outshooting Prince George 36-24 when it was all said and done.
Victoria (Oil Kings 3 – Royals 5)
With a win in their back pocket and a short stop in the BC interior, the Oil Kings would head to Vancouver Island in the first game of a back to back. Sebastian Cossa would enjoy his second start of the road trip, however, he would get dinged up in this game as the Royals would put 5 goals past him on 20 shots. The Oil Kings would once again run into a hot goaltender as Shane Farkas would turn away 36 of 39 Oil Kings shots to give the Royals a 5-3 win.
Vancouver (Oil Kings 4 – Vancouver 5) (OT)
Quick turn around for the Oil Kings who didn’t get much time to lick their wounds after a loss to the royals, quick fairy trip back to the mainland as they’ll see the Giants on the second game of a back-to-back. Todd Scott would get the start in this one, as accustomed to back-to-backs. Not quite a goaltenders duel in this one as 8 goals were scored in regulation. A three-point night from Riley Sawchuk wasn’t enough to give the Oil Kings a win as Justin Sourdif from the Giants would ice the game 2:57 into overtime. Even though Edmonton didn’t come away with a win, they’ll be happy with any points they can get on this long road trip.
Kelowna (Oil Kings 1 – Kelowna 0) (SO)
Dylan Guenther would score the lone goal in the shootout for the Oil Kings as for only the 8th time in WHL history and 2nd time in Oil Kings’ history a game would go to the shootout tied 0-0. Both Roman Basran and Sebastian Cossa deserved to win this game, both rightfully got the second and first star respectively. The Oil Kings avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season and will go into the road trip finale on a positive note.
Kamloops (Oil Kings 3 – Kamloops 5)
At the time, this game saw the WHL Central Division-leading team across the ice from the WHL BC Division-leading Blazers. As much of this road trip has been so far, this game would start rocky as the Blazers would jump on the Oil Kings early. Todd Scott would hold down the fort after that as the Oil Kings would pot three straight goals on the Blazers giving them a 3-1 lead with 15 minutes left in the second. It was all Blazers after that as they would score four straight on Todd Scott sending the Oil Kings home.
Edmonton would finish the road trip 2-2-1, grabbing 5 points on a five-game road trip. In all honesty, teams that can average a point per game on the road, usually end up doing just fine in the end, so not a totally disappointing road trip. Edmonton will enjoy the confines of Rogers Place for six of their next seven games, including Teddy Bear Toss night on December 7th against the Calgary Hitmen. You can get your tickets HERE before they sell out!
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