Make it seven and counting for the Kelowna Rockets.
For the Edmonton Oil Kings, it was one and done.
Geordie Wudrick scored three times, twice in regulation before tallying the shootout winner, as the Rockets topped the Oil Kings 5-4 in WHL action at Prospera Place on Wednesday night. The win was Kelowna‘s seventh straight, a season high, coming on the heels of a season-high, seven-game losing skid.
“It was a big night for myself, but an even bigger night for the team to get that two points,” said Wudrick, the shootout‘s lone scorer with a backhand deke five-hole. “It was nice to bounce back here and go on a good stretch, and hopefully we can keep that going for quite a while.”
Wudrick ended the contest after an action-packed overtime that featured a little of everything, but failed to produce a winner. Kelowna dominated the extra session, outshooting Edmonton 5-0, but Oil Kings goalie Cam Lanigan made several quality saves, including a diving stop on Shane McColgan to deny a rebound chance.
The overtime also included a scary scene as referee Graham Skilliter was carried off on a stretcher following a high-impact collision with Rockets assistant captain Brandon McMillan. It appeared Skilliter was falling near the bottom of the right faceoff circle when McMillan, who lost the handle on the puck as he drove to the net, toppled over the helpless official. Skilliter was moving his legs at first, but remained down for more than 10 minutes, said to be in and out of consciousness, before being strapped to a back board and stretchered off the ice. That left linesmen Matt Thurston and Nathan Van Oosten to employ a two-man system to end the game.
McColgan, with his team-leading 22nd goal, and captain Lucas Bloodoff, with his 10th, also scored for Kelowna (26-25-2-2), which has recorded points in eight consecutive games dating back to a 2-1 shootout loss to Chilliwack on Jan. 20.
Edmonton defenceman Adrian Van De Mosselaer‘s return home included a fight with Mitchell Callahan during the first minute of the second period.
Wednesday‘s result, however, was in doubt throughout and could have easily been different – a point Rockets coach Ryan Huska planned to make at today‘s practice.
“Not pretty,” said Huska of his club‘s effort, which included a slow start that saw Kelowna outshot 11-5 and outscored 2-1 in the opening frame before rebounding to lead 3-2 through two periods.
“We talk a lot about process and playing the right way, and we didn‘t play the right way tonight, but we managed to get a win,” Huska continued. “That‘s an important thing – two points are always important – but if you don‘t play the right way consistently, those wins don‘t come for long. So we have to make sure we‘re better on Friday night.”
Garry Nunn, with two, Michael St. Croix and Sebastian Svendsen replied for Edmonton (11-32-4-8), which has recorded points in two consecutive games after halting a 16-game winless skid on Sunday with a 5-4 overtime victory against Prince Albert.
Adam Brown made 24 saves through regulation and overtime, then turned aside all three shootout attempts by Svendsen, St. Croix and T.J. Foster, who he poke-checked to secure the win.
Lanigan stopped 35 shots, as well as Tyson Barrie and McColgan in the shootout.
The Rockets will try to stretch their winning streak to eight on Friday night when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes (16-32-3-2), 7 p.m. at Prospera Place. Top of Page
