The series shifts to the Ice District in Edmonton as the Oil Kings will be the hosts for Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Championship. Edmonton was able to get the split on the road in Prince Albert which can only be seen as a huge win since Prince Albert only lost 4 times at home during the entire regular season. Dylan Myskiw and Ian Scott would get the starts in Game 3 as we expect those two will get the nod the entire series.

Period 1

No love lost between these two teams, a very physical first half of the first period. No penalties either as it looks like the refs are going to let them play, a couple of interference penalties that probably could have been called but alas. We are letting them play. Edmonton has had the majority of the good chances in the first half as they’ve controlled the play and have tested Ian Scott. Haven’t been able to find the back of the net yet as Scott has been up to the challenge. Edmonton would control much of the second half of the period as well as they would end up outshooting the Raiders 9-5 in the first period. Very good home period for the good guys, sadly not much to recap, however.

Period 2

Edmonton starts the second period all over the Raiders. Andrew Fyten literally looks like he got shot out of a cannon, throwing huge hits on the forecheck and beating everybody to the puck. A couple of shifts later the Oil Kings get rewarded as Vince Loschiavo walks in all alone and puts it past Ian Scott giving the Oil Kings a 1-0 lead. Quinn Benjafield and Trey Fix-Wolansky would get the apples. This would be the Oil Kings first lead of the series surprisingly.

Good things would keep happening for the Oil Kings as they would go on the powerplay after a Cole Fonstad holding penalty. The first penalty of the evening. Edmonton would get a couple of good shots on net but Scott would stand strong, killing off the penalty.

Seemed like killing off the penalty gave the Raiders some momentum as they would control the next 5 minutes of play, testing Myskiw. Myskiw would turn them away. That momentum would go away quickly those as Conner McDonald would rip it top shelf over Scott’s should after a slick cross-ice feed from Trey Fix-Wolansky, Vince Loschiavo would get the second assist. 2-0 Oil Kings, 10 minutes into the second period.

Vince Loschiavo would pile onto the lead 5 minutes later on the powerplay. Just watching this game, Trey Fix-Wolansky is by far the best player on the ice, he’s feeding everybody perfectly this evening. He would pick up his third assist of the night. Quinn Benjafield would pick up the second one as this goal would mirror the first one exactly. Huge period by the Oil Kings.

Matthew Robertson would keep the train rolling with a snipe from the slot going upstairs on Scott with 1:06 left in the second period. Andrei Pavlenko and Vladimir Alistrov would get the apples on this one as everybody is chipping in tonight.

Edmonton would literally get penalized 6 seconds later, a chance for the Raiders to gain some momentum going into the third period. They would do just that, however, it would have some controversy. Sean Montgomery would score with 0.2 seconds left on the clock, it would be reviewed but it would count. Raiders gain a bit of hope going into the third.

Period 3

As expected the Raiders come out of the intermission putting all the pressure on the Oil Kings. It’s almost as if they are playing like a team down by three goals. Edmonton basically didn’t leave their zone for the first 8 minutes of the period. Both teams would trade powerplays but neither team would be successful. A very “boring” period of hockey as both teams seem to be playing for the clock to hit zeroes. Edmonton would get the crowd out of their seats though with a Josh Williams goal assisted by Jake Neighbours and Andrew Fyten. 5-1 Edmonton. Nice picture of the boys celebrating the goal taken by Spencer Love who had to take my spot at the game.

The Oil Kings would obviously hold on and defeat the Raiders 5-1 taking a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Championship, putting them 2 wins away from the WHL Finals. We’ll see you in Game 4, get your tickets at www.oilkings.ca and cheer on the boys from the Ice District!

Three Stars of the Game:

3rd – Quinn Benjafield

2nd – Trey Fix-Wolansky

1st – Vince Loschiavo