The Edmonton Oil Kings maintained their surge atop the overall W-H-L standings Friday, scoring a 4-3 victory over the visiting Saskatoon Blades.
Josh Williams and Scott Atkinson scored 1:59 apart, with Atkinson’s tally just past the mid-point of the third period turning out to be the game’s final goal. The rally gave the Oil Kings their sixth consecutive win and upped their overall record to 11-1-3 for 25 points for the second ranked team in the latest C-H-L Top 10.
Jake Neighbours and Williams, with his first of two on the night, gave Edmonton a 2-0 lead after the first period. However, the Bridge City Bunch bounced back with markers from Nolan Kneen, Scott Walford…on a power play…and Eric Florchuk…the latter goal coming while the Blue and Gold were short-handed early in the third frame and giving the Blades their first lead of the contest.
“We’re pleased with the effort,” said assistant coach Ryan Keller. “Obviously it stings being in that position at that point in the game and letting it slip away. I think we had a real good start to the game, played a solid 16 minutes and kind of lapsed at the end of the first and spotted them a couple. But, other than that, really we were pretty strong throughout the game, I thought carried a lot of the play, had a lot of chances and created a lot of power plays because of our energy and our work (ethic).
“As a team, those are games that we’ve got to learn to put away (in the win column).”
The 8-7-2 Blades were out-shot 35-29 and were 1-for-5 with the man advantage while the Oil Kings were 1-for-2. Saskatoon moves on to another large Alberta city Saturday night to tangle with the Calgary Hitmen at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The broadcast starts at 6 p.m. with the Sardinia Family Restaurant pre-game show and the play-by-play at 7. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Saskatoon Blades 3 at Edmonton Oil Kings 4 – Status: Final
Friday, November 1, 2019 – Rogers Place – Edmonton, AB
Saskatoon 0 2 1 – 3
Edmonton 2 0 2 – 4
1st Period-1, Edmonton, Jake Neighbours 3 (Riley Sawchuk, David Kope), 15:56. 2, Edmonton, Josh Williams 7 (Scott Atkinson, Vladimir Alistrov), 18:39 (PP). Penalties-Vladimir Alistrov Edm (hooking), 7:30; McKay Sas (slashing), 17:10.
2nd Period-3, Saskatoon, Kneen 3 (Wouters), 11:47. 4, Saskatoon, Walford 5 (Kneen, Robins), 14:38 (PP). Penalties-Wyatt McLeod Edm (cross checking), 7:12; Scott Atkinson Edm (cross checking), 8:05; Conner McDonald Edm (roughing), 13:58.
3rd Period-5, Saskatoon, Florchuk 6 6:19 (SH). 6, Edmonton, Josh Williams 8 (Vladimir Alistrov, Conner McDonald), 9:57. 7, Edmonton, Scott Atkinson 5 (Logan Dowhaniuk), 11:56. Penalties-Scott Atkinson Edm (delay of game), 3:05; served by Wiens Sas (too many men), 5:29.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 7-14-8-29. Edmonton 11-10-14-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 1 / 5; Edmonton 1 / 1.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Maier 6-6-1-1 (33 shots-31 saves). Edmonton, Cossa 5-0-0-0 (29 shots-26 saves).
A-5,872
Referees-Chris Crich (20), Kevin Webinger (6).
Linesmen-Scott Fulmer (32), Sheldon Skinner (127).
