For the second straight game, the two teams were tied 1-1 after one period. Mikey Milne opened the scoring for the second straight game at 10:08 while Logan Dowhaniuk tied it on the power play at 18:45. While there was no scoring in the second, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t an eventful and controversial second period. The Oil Kings had a goal called back in the second due to goalie interference. Also, Matthew Savoie was injured on a Justin Sourdif hit. He left the game with an apparent shoulder injury. Savoie was injured during the Prince Albert Raider series.
In the third, the scoring started when Jaxson Wiebe took a five minute major for a check to the head 2:00 minutes into the second. Owen Pedersen capitalized with the winning goal on the powerplay at 3:15. Mikey Milne then added another powerplay goal at 6:20. That goal came with some controversy as the officials ruled the puck crossed the line after Milne collided with Oil Kings goaltender Sebastian Cossa. Milne completed the hat trick with an empty net goal at 18:24. Switzerland’s Maxmillan Streule celebrated his home countries win over Canada with a goal of his own to make it 5-1 at 19:17.
Offensively, Milne had three goals. Streule added an assist with his goal. Benjamin Zloty was credited with two assists. In goal, Gage Alexander made his first start of the playoffs. He got the win making 35 saves on 36 shots. This was the Oil Kings first loss of the post season, Costa made 18 saves on 22 shots.
For both teams, there will be other topics to discuss on this 15 hour bus ride to Edmonton. The first is the goals in the third period. The ICE are outscoring the Oil Kings. The second is special teams. The ICE are 4 for 11 in the series. The Oil Kings are two for eight so far in the series. The third is who may not be in the series. In addition to Savoie, the ICE lost Connor McClennon to an injury. For the Oil Kings, Wiebe may miss some time due to his major. The last topic in the ICE bus is do you go with Alexander or Hauser in goal?
Game Three is Monday, Game Four Wednesday and Game Five is Friday.