"Triple Double" in Cowtown

Calgary, AB - Edmonton fell behind early but four unanswered goals in the second period helped to power the visiting Oil Kings to a 9-5 win over the Calgary Hitmen in Wednesday night WHL action. Both TJ Foster and Tyler Maxwell notched hat tricks on the night as Maxwell became the second Oil Kings player to break the 30 goal threshold this season.

Calgary opened the scoring in the first at the 12 minute mark with a goal that seemed to ignite the Oil Kings play as Foster would tally his first on the night and 11th power play goal of the season to tie things up with under five to play in the first frame. Stephane Legault then got in on the action just minutes later as he took a nice breakout pass from Henrik Samuelsson and tallied to make it a 2-1 game going into the second.

Tristan Sieben would extend the lead to 3-1 early in the second but the Hitmen would push right back with a nice play finished by rookie Victor Rask just short of the halfwy mark in the period. Only a minute later the Hitmen would tie the game at 3-3 off the stick of Jimmy Bubnick. But the Oil Kings, who have outscored opponents 76-38 in second periods this season showed how as they rallied for four unanswered in just five minutes to take a 7-3 lead into the third. Maxwell notched a pair before Rhett Rachinski shoveled home his 18th of the season and Foster notched his second of the night.

Calgary still showed signs of life in the third as they tallied three minutes into the period, but it was Foster once again who notched his hat trick goal through traffic to re establish the four goal lead. For Foster it was the second hat trick of his WHL career and first of the 2011-12 season. He continues to have a career best season with 57 points and a plus-27 rating. Calgary would tally once more to make it an 8-5 game before Maxwell would complete the second hat trick of the night on a brilliant passing play from Dylan Wruck and St. Croix. Maxwell has now totalled 44 points in 30 games as an Oil King and is well on pace to match his 41 goal career high set last year in Everett. St.Croix the Oil Kings leading scorer posted a pair of assists for 50 helpers on the season, breaking his own modern day franchise record of 48 set in 10-11. Wruck for his part also broke St.Croix's record from last season as he posted three assists for 51 on the year and a total of 69 points.

Laurent Brossoit posted 20 saves in the win, his 31st of the season as the Oil Kings power play was 1 for 2 on the night while holding the Hitmen to 0 for 3 with the mad advantage. Edmonton continues to sit alone atop the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 36-12-2-4 for 78 points. With Kamloops' 5-1 win over the Tri City Americans the Oil Kings are now alone in second place overall two points back of the Blazers in the race for the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy.

The Oil Kings will now head west as they continue their six game road trip with a pair of games this weekend against the Prince George Cougars on Friday and Saturday night. Next week will see the Oil Kings in what should be another great match up as they take on the WHL leading Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday. Finally, the team will round out their road trip with games in Kelowna on Wednesday and Friday in Vancouver. Follow along on twitter @edmoilkings and online at oilkings.ca to keep up with YOUR team on the road. All games this season will be broadcast live on the TEAM 1260 and streamed live at WHL.ca

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The Kings will return to the friendly confines of Rexall Place on Family Day, February 20th as they welcome Anaheim Ducks first round pick Emerson Etem and the Medicine Hat Tigers. It's a special Family friendly 2PM puck drop with the doors opening at 1 PM and the first 500 fans at the game will receive a Devan Dubnyk World Junior Bobblehead. This bobblehead is the fourth of five World Junior Bobbleheads and the only goaltender of the set. Tickets start at just $15 bucks the best side seats are $20 bucks! Tickets are on sale now at any Ticketmaster outlet, online at oilkings.ca, OR by calling 414-GOAL.

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Looking to spend an exciting evening with the family? The Global family pack powered by Booster Juice is your solution! Each family pack includes four Oil Kings tickets and four Booster Juice smoothies for just $79. Squeeze more out of life!

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Don't forget that with only two Bobblehead nights remaining the only way to guarantee your choice of a Gagner, Hall, Eberle, Dubnyk or Smyth Team Canada Bobblehead is by purchasing the 8 Ticket Flex pack presented by the TEAM 1260!

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