Cranbrook, BC – Edmonton Oil Kings Rhett Rachinski scored 2 goals in a 3-1 win over the Kootenay ICE, to win the series 4-0, in WHL playoff action on Thursday night.
The Oil Kings opened the scoring early in the first period on the powerplay as Mark Pysyk’s point shot was stopped by the goalie, the puck went high in the air and landed near the goal line and was pushed into the net by the goalies’ pad.
In the second period the ICE scored their first powerplay goal of the series with Drew Czerwonka coming down the left wing with a wrist shot that beat the goalie of the glove side.
The Oil Kings regained the lead as Rhett Rachinski’s attempted pass from the corner went off an ICE player into the net.
Rhett Rachinski added an empty net goal to clinch the game and the series.
It’s the third time the ICE have been swept in the 1st round of the playoffs (09 vs Brandon, 04 vs Kelowna) and the 5th time they lost 4 playoff games in a row.
The ICE had 12 players on the roster this season that won the WHL Championship last year.
The club had 8 rookies during the season and will have at least 7 rookies next year, in what will probably make making them the youngest team in the WHL.
The two home games for the ICE were the smallest crowds in playoff history in games played at the Rec-Plex. 2,293 for game 3 and 2,146 for game 4.
ICE Scratches – Spencer Wand (1 game suspension for warm-up violation in game 3), Luke Paulsen, Max Reinhart (1 game suspension for game misconduct in game 3).
Oil Kings Scratches – Klarc Wilson, Cole Benson, Ryan Dech, Mason Geertsen, Tristan Sieben.
Game Summary
Edmonton wins series 4-0.
1st Period
1, Edmonton, Pysyk 1 (Reinhart, Samuelsson), 4:22 (PP).
Penalties-Montgomery Ktn (interference), 3:41; Lowe Edm (tripping), 11:44.
2nd Period
2, Kootenay, Czerwonka 2 (Montgomery, S.Reinhart), 10:21 (PP).
3, Edmonton, Rachinski 1 14:09.
Penalties-Lazar Edm (checking to the head), 9:30; Leach Ktn (slashing), 11:09; Lowe Edm (roughing), 17:51; Martin Ktn (roughing), 17:51; Muth Ktn (charging), 20:00.
3rd Period
4, Edmonton, Rachinski 2 (Samuelsson, Lowe), 19:23.
Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Edmonton 4-13-1-18. Kootenay 5-5-5-15.
Power Play Opportunities-Edmonton 1 / 3; Kootenay 1 / 2.
Goalies-Edmonton, Brossoit 4-0-0-0 (15 shots-14 saves). Kootenay, Lieuwen 0-4-0-0 (18 shots-15 saves).
A-2,146
Referees-Brett Iverson (24), Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Ron Dietterle (121), Michael Roberts (87).