Oil Kings strike late, top Canes

By Dale Woodard on January 18, 2022.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes took three of six points in a three-game weekend and veteran forward Justin Hall put in a stats weekend of his own.

Completing their three-in-three weekend Sunday night, the Hurricanes and Edmonton Oil Kings battled to a shootout before the Oil Kings prevailed with a 5-4 decision in Western Hockey League action at the Enmax Centre.

Up 4-2 late in the latter half of the third, the Canes were 7:08 removed from taking two points and the win off the Central Division leaders, but goals from Dylan Guenther and former Hurricane Cole Miller knotted things up at 4-4 and forced overtime.

When that didn’t produce a winner, Guenther and Jake Neighbours scored in the shootout to nab the extra point.

That spoiled Hall’s second hat trick in as many nights as the Edmonton product also netted three goals in the Hurricanes 6-3 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers Saturday night in Medicine Hat.

Hall’s seven-point weekend – which also included an assist Saturday in Medicine Hat – ups his season totals to 18 goals and 36 points in 29 games.

The Canes were topped 5-1 by the Prince Albert Raiders Friday night and are 14-14-2-1, tied for eighth place in the Eastern Conference with the Swift Current Broncos.

“I thought it was a good hockey game,” said Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio. “I think Edmonton played a strong game and we played a strong game. It was kind of back and forth and a battle. We put ourselves in a good spot to win the game and unfortunately, they’re a good hockey club and they found a way to get a couple late and then the shootout was up for grabs. I thought it was an even game (and) it was a hard-fought game.”

Backed by some big saves from Hurricanes starter Bryan Thomson, who kicked out all 11 shots he faced in the opening 20 minutes, the Canes took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission when Hall got his stick on a shot from Alex Thacker and tipped it high and past Oil Kings netminder Sebastian Cossa for a 1-0 lead.

The teams traded goals to start the second period.

The Oil Kings got it started as Neighbours slammed home a close-in rebound to knot it up at 1-1.

The deadlock didn’t last long as Logan Barlage put Lethbridge back on top 20 seconds later with his seventh of the season.

The Hurricanes’ powerplay paced them to a 3-1 lead and Hall drained his second of the game and 17th of the season with his tally at 7:47 for a two-goal lead.

Lethbridge had a chance to go up 4-1 when Ty Nash was hauled down on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot with 9:03 left in the first.

But Cossa was equal to the task, poking away the chance to keep it 3-1.

The Oil Kings took advantage of that break shortly after when defenceman Carter Kowalyk pinched in off the point and put home his first of the season with 7:31 left in the second to cut the lead to 3-2 after 40 minutes.

Hall completed his hat trick bid 2:13 into the third on a goal that briefly went under video review before being ruled a good goal.

But with time winding down, the Oil Kings offence kicked into gear to start the comeback.

Guenther got it started on the power play, making no mistake on a one-time from Neighbours to make it 4-3 Lethbridge with 7:08 remaining.

The Oil Kings pulled even 1:09 later when Miller tapped a feel from Josh Williams past Thomson to tie it.

Kisio said the Oil Kings grabbed the upper hand with those late goals.

“We were up 4-2 and if we get that puck down the ice then we’re in a good spot and probably win the game,” he said. “But they scored that goal, got excited and we kind of sat back a little too much and before we know it’s 4-4.”

Thomson was called upon to make some key stops in overtime, including a chance from defenceman Kaiden Guhle when the Montreal Canadiens prospect was able to walk in off the left wing in the three-on-three play.

“I think he was so good,” said Kisio of Thomson, who made 27 saves in the loss. “He made some big saves early and looked confident. He controlled the puck and looked like a guy was there to make some big saves and he did.”

In the shootout, Hall and Liekit Reichle were stopped by Cossa while Guenther and Neighbours made good on their chances.

Hall’s offensive output – which also earned him the WHL Player of the Week honour Monday – brings his season totals to 18 goals and 36 points in 29 games.

“I like our game for the most part tonight,” said Hall. “We had a few breakdowns in the game and we would like to clean those up. That’s game we should win. We’re up 4-2 going into the back half of the third period against a good team. We have to know when to settle those down and get the win. But we’ll figure it out.”

Playing on a line with Alex Thacker and Logan Wormald, Kisio likened the native of Edmonton as the man behind the wheel.

“His line with Thacker and Wormald, they’ve been so good. But Justin Hall is our driver,” he said. “In Medicine Hat, he took it over with a hat trick and took a hat trick against Edmonton, a pretty good hockey club to score a hat trick against. It just like his game since Christmas has gone to a whole new level.”

Hall said a bit of familiarity has been established with his line mates.

“I think we’re all playing hard on the forecheck and moving the puck well and talking on the ice,” he said. “Communicating makes it a lot easier to play with the guys when you’re talking.”

The shootout loss puts the Canes in a tie with the Broncos for eighth in the East. Lethbridge has four games in hand on Swift Current.

“Any points right now are going to be very crucial for us come playoff time,” said Kisio. “We’ve played four games in five nights and went 2-1-0-1. So that’s a lot of hockey in a short span and we were pretty happy with the outcome.”

“Losing the point sucks, but sometimes you’ve got to take what you get, I guess,” said Hall. “And at least we got one.”

Guenther and Neighbours each had an assist for two points.

Guhle and Williams each had two helpers.

Cossa stopped 25 of 29 shots.

Hurricanes defenceman Joe Arntsen, wearing the captain’s ‘C’ Sunday, had two assists.

The Oil Kings outshot the Hurricanes 31-29.

Lethbridge was 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Oil Kings were 1-for-3.

Sunday’s announced attendance was 2,254.

The Hurricanes are back at the Enmax Centre Friday night when the Red Deer Rebels pay a visit at 7 p.m.

Follow @@DWoodardHerald on Twitter