EDMONTON, Alberta — Rexall Place, the historic home of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers is one of two arenas shared with a WHL franchise, so Friday night’s game against the Edmonton Oil Kings was an exciting opportunity for the Everett Silvertips players.
But the Tips’ lasting memory of the final time they will get the chance to play in the arena will be less than stellar as the Oil Kings scratched out a power play goal midway through the third period and hung on for a 1-0 victory over Everett before 5,794 fans.
The Oil Kings earned a power play at 8:27 in the third period when Dario Winkler was whistled for interference. Edmonton’s Lane Bauer won the ensuing faceoff and fed the puck to Brandon Baddock, who found Dario Meyer in front of the goal.
Meyer drew Everett goaltender Hart across the crease and stuck the puck through Hart’s legs for a 1-0 lead at 8:33 in the third. It was the only goal of the game.
The penalty kill has been perhaps the most improved aspect of Everett’s play in the second half. Meyer’s goal was the first power play goal allowed by the Tips since last week’s home loss to Regina.
“I think they were working hard tonight and we were working hard too,” Everett defenseman Noah Juulsen said. “They just snuck one in on that (penalty kill).”
The Tips (28-13-2-2, 60 points) remain in first place as they lost in regulation for the first time since Dec. 27 at Vancouver. The Oil Kings (19-22-6-1, 45 points), who will join the Oilers at a new arena next season, ended Everett’s 11-game streak of earning at least a point in the standings.
“Rexall goes way back,” said Juulsen, Montreal’s first round pick who will likely play someday in Edmonton’s new arena. “Lots of NHLers have played here and lots of NHLers still play here. I know they have a new rink coming in next year, but it was cool to play in such a historic building for sure.”
The game was also a homecoming for Everett Silvertip forward Brandon Ralph, who was acquired from the Oil Kings at the beginning of the season. Ralph received an ovation from the crowd when he was welcomed back with a message on the video board prior to his first shift.
The game was scoreless through two periods as Hart and Edmonton netminder Payton Lee locked up in a goaltenders’ duel.
Hart, a native of nearby Sherwood Park, recorded 23 saves in the hard-luck defeat. Lee, who has played well in 14 games since coming over from Vancouver midway through the season, recorded his first shutout of the season as the Silvertips were held without a goal for the fourth time this year.
Edmonton got an early breakaway opportunity in the opening minute, but Hart came up with the save en route to eight stops in the scoreless opening period. Everett had its own chance just a minute later, but did not convert any of its seven shot attempts in the frame.
The second period was more of the same as it remained scoreless through the first 40 minutes. The Tips outshot the Oil Kings 11-8 in the frame and finished with a 27-24 shot advantage for the game.
The Silvertips conclude their second and final trip to the Central Division with a game Saturday at Red Deer at 6 p.m. The Rebels are the host of this year’s Memorial Cup and made a bevy of trades near the deadline to bolster the roster for an extended playoff run.
“We just gotta keep it simple, keep the pucks in their zone and establish the forecheck early,” Juulsen said.
Oil Kings 1, Silvertips 0
Everett 0 0 0 — 0
Edmonton 0 0 1 — 1
1st Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Pfeifer Evt (tripping), 1:24; Baddock Edm (holding), 9:43; Millar Evt (boarding), 10:28; Carroll Edm (cross checking), 13:27; Pfeifer Evt (roughing), 16:07; Gable Edm (high sticking, high sticking), 16:07.
2nd Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Elizarov Edm (high sticking), 10:33; Baddock Edm (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 15:36; Leedahl Evt (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:05; Mayo Edm (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:05.
3rd Period—1, Edmonton, Meyer 7 (Pollock, Bauer), 8:33 (PP). Penalties—Winkler Evt (interference), 8:27.
Shots on Goal—Everett 7-12-8-27. Edmonton 8-9-7-24.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 0/5; Edmonton 1/3.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 27-12-1-2 (24 shots-23 saves). Edmonton, Lee 9-11-3-1 (27 shots-27 saves).
A—5,794
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