Another Record Breaker
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Edmonton, AB - Michael St.Croix established a new modern day franchise record for points in a season to lead the Oil Kings to a 6-2 win over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday night at Rexall Place. St.Croix's goal and assist gave him a total of 79 points, eclispsing the mark of 78 posted by Dylan Wruck last season.
The pace was slow but steady coming out of the gates with both teams unable to tally the first of the game. Late in the period it was Henrik Samuelsson who opened the scoring for the Oil Kings as he tipped home a shot by TJ Foster five hole on Brandon goaltender Curtis Honey. Samuelsson's goal was his third of the season and eighth point in seven games with the Oil Kings this season.
Edmonton would go to the second period with a 1-0 lead but the Wheaties would push back early in the second as Brenden Walker scored on the power play to make it 1-1. But less than a minute later the Oil Kings St.Croix would find the puck in traffic in front of the net and float a shot over Honey for his 32nd goal of the season.
Five minutes later and rookie standout Curtis Lazar drove the puck wide right around his defender and put home his 14th of the season with a low shot far side to make it a 3-1 Oil Kings lead. A history making moment came later in the period as Rhett Rachinski would be "Johnny on the spot" as he tucked home a rebound into an empty net off a shot from St.Croix. For St.Croix the assist was his 79th point of the season as he broke Wruck's 78 point single season modern franchise record from 10-11.
Captain Latvia Kristians Pelss would then tally his 17th of the season as he made a nice move in the slot and roofed a backhand snipe to make it a 5-1 game going into the third. Samuelsson would then add his second on the night as he wheeled at the top of the slot and picked the far corner to make it 6-1 before the Wheaties would tally another to make it a 6-2 final.
Laurent Brossoit was sharp in net with 25 saves as Edmonton outshot Brandon 44-27 on the night. The power play was 1 for 1 on the evening while holding the Wheaties to 1 for 4 with the man advantage in front of a crowd of 6852 at Rexall.
The win brings the Oil Kings record to 33-11-2-4 as they lead the Eastern Conference and pulled into a tie with Kamloops and Tri Cities at 72 points atop the WHL overall standings.
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The Oil Kings are back in action tomorrow night as they welcome Team Canada standout Brendan Gallagher and the Vancouver Giants on TAYLOR HALL BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT! Game Time is 7:00PM – Doors open at 6:00 PM! Fans are encouraged to arrive early to claim one of the only 500 limited edition Taylor Hall World Junior bobbleheads available at the door!
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