Oil Kings Spill T-Birds 6-2

The Western Hockey League champion Edmonton Oil Kings paid a visit to the T-Birds Tuesday night and beat the T-Birds 6-2 behind a stifling defense and a handful of goals. Edmonton was led by the three points from Henrik Samuelsson and Michael St. Croix, blowing open a close game in the third period when they scored three goals to put the game away.

The two teams played an even first period until the Oil Kings struck first as Dylan Wruck stole the puck at the Seattle blue line and fired a seeing eye wrist shot over Brandon Glover\’s shoulder. It was Wruck\’s 19th goal of the season and was the only thing that separated the two clubs after twenty minutes.

Edmonton struck twice in the second period to build a three goal lead. The first came as their top ranked power play unit cashed in as T.J. Foster knocked home a puck into an open net. Eight minutes later defenseman Cody Corbett fired a shot from the point through traffic that beat Glover, giving the Oil Kings a three goal lead and ending the night for the Seattle net-minder.

With Danny Mumaugh in net the T-Birds continued to play hard and were rewarded by drawing a penalty that they were able to capitalize on when Luke Lockhart found Alex Delnov in the slot for a goal. It was a power play goal and Delnov\’s 20th goal of the season. That goal gave Seattle some life and they responded with some good pressure and more close calls.

They were unable to get that second goal however, which would have tightened the game up more. In the third period the T-Birds took an early penalty and Edmonton\’s league leading power play made them pay for it. Samuelsson scored his 32nd goal from in front and Edmonton had regained their three goal advantage and all the momentum.

Edmonton was three-for-three with the power play on the night and it continues a disturbing trend on the Seattle penalty kill. They gave up three power play goals on Sunday to Vancouver and two more Saturday against Everett.

From there Edmonton began to exert their will starting with their defense and ending in their big goal scorers getting chances. They poured on two more goals giving them a 6-1 lead before Luke Lockhart scored a pretty goal late in the game to make the score look better.

Seattle failed to get points on the night and still remains one point ahead of idle Everett in the race for seventh place. Seattle\’s schedule doesn\’t get easier as they next travel to Kelowna to play the B.C. Division leading Rockets before a home and home against a Tri-City team that has won six in a row.

GAME NOTES

With Delnov reaching the 20 goal mark Seattle now has two players with that many. Last season, only Burke Gallimore topped the 20 goal mark with 22. Seattle may have more hit it this year as Lockhart now has 19 and Shea Theodore has 16.

Defenseman Jesse Forsberg was a healthy scratch for Tuesday\’s game. Konowalchuk said that it “was something within the team.”

Seattle\’s offensive struggles continued as they were only able to score two goals, bringing their total to four in their last three games.

There were a bevy of NHL scouts in attendance for this game as Edmonton is loaded with prospects, as well as the Seattle players that have shown up on draft lists.

We will have reactions from players and Steve Konowalchuk up later tonight, check back to 710 ESPN Seattle for more