Hot News: How the Edmonton Oil Kings defied expectations and won the Memorial Cup

As the Edmonton Oil Kings took over the Memorial Cup championship game with their direct and heavy style of hockey, Sportsnet colour commentator Sam Cosentino exclaimed, 'How about the Edmonton Oil Kings? I don't think there's anybody that gave this hockey club a chance coming into this game and they're now leading 4-2.'

Not anybody? Maybe no one in Cosention's hockey circles. But in Edmonton and in western Canada, after seeing Edmonton take out high-flying Portland in the Western Hockey League finals, many folks felt the Oil Kings could and would win the Memorial Cup. That's what I predicted in a post on Saturday. And in another post, I outlined the five things that had to happen - and I expected to happen - for the Oil Kings to win. Let's go down that list today to see if they did happen: 1. No softies on Tristan Jarry.

'Tristan Jarry has been inconsistent, I think, to be kind,' said Sportsnet host Jeff Marek before the game, 'where (Guelph golaie) Justin Nichols with a save percentage of .941 has just been rolling along.'

Marek's comment was a fair one. Jarry had let in a few weak goals on outside shots in the tournament, and if he let in that kind of goal in the championship game, it would have been hugely deflating.

But Jarry was strong.

On the first goal against, an iffy turnover by Edmonton d-man Dysin Mayo - who looked a bit nervous to start the game - was the culpirt.

On Guelph's second goal, Edmonton captain Griffin Reinhart got caught flat-footed at the blueline, then failed to recover in time to cover the goal scorer.

On Guelph's third goal, Jarry's stick was wrenched from his hands, making him vulnerable. He read a wrap-around play incorrectly, but that goal was due to the inability of his teammates to get the puck out of the Oil Kings end, leading to two exhausted forwards, Henrik Samuelsson and Edgars Kulda, losing puck battles that saw the goal get scored. Jarry shared in the blame, but this wasn't a spirit-sapping goal, certainly not the kind that Oil Kings forward Mitch Moroz scored on Nichols to put the Oil Kings up 4 to 2.

Moroz shot from the high slot, Nichols was too low and not out far enough, and the puck went in over his shoulder. Ouch. 2. Reinhart and Sautner must pick it up.

Reinhart and Ashton Sautner, along with Dysin Mayo and Cody Corbett, played almost all of the minutes on defence for the Oil Kings, many of them against tough opposing attackers and in tough situations. It's fair to say all the Oil Kings d-men had their struggles in this tournament, and in the championship game, but Reinhart and Sautner held their own against Guelph, Reinhart making a nice pass on Edmonton's first power play goal, Sautner an even better one on Edmonton's second power play marker.

Most importantly, at the key moments of the game, Reinhart and Sautner were part of an effective team effort that funnelled Guelph's attackers to the boards and smothered them there.

In Guelph's last attempt to score with their goalie pulled, it was Reinhart who hoisted the puck out of Edmonton's zone, kicking off the final Oil Kings scoring sequence. 3. Samuelsson & Lazar must play their 'A' games

The Oil Kings won the playoffs because of these two players, the strength that Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar provided up the middle.

The Oil Kings had a unique ability to funnel their attacks right at the opposition net, and Samelsson and Lazar drove as hard in that direction as anyone.

I rate them as the two best prospects on the Oil Kings. Too bad they're not both Oilers draft picks because they're just the kind of big, aggressive, fast and skilled centres the Oilers could use.

In the championship game, Samuelsson made some pass or shot on 11 scoring chances, while Lazar chipped in on seven chances, including a key screen on the Oil Kings first goal. The two showed themselves to be two-way hockey players a cut above other major junior forwards, and as much as anything, that's why the Memorial Cup is now property of the Oil Kings. 4. Kulda must stay hot

Edgars Kulda was the Oil King most consistent attacker in the Memorial Cup tournament, and he again cut through the defence on Sunday against Guelph, scoring a goal on an outstanding shot and setting up Samuelsson on an outstanding pass. Kulda plays with as much skill as anyone on the Oil Kings. He went undrafted in his first year of eligibility, but it's hard to imagine he will last past the second round this year. 5. The grinders must grind

The Oilers did not have three scoring lines like Guelph did, but the Oil Kings third line of Riley Kieser, Mads Eller and Luke Bertolucci is another big reason this team won the Memorial Cup. Their energy, defensive smarts, speed and tenacity often allowed them to hem in opposing teams in their own zone.

Against Guelph, they played a strong, smart and effective game, with Eller especially impressing with his hitting and checking.

Oh, and the Oil Kings' second goal was scored by fourth-liner Tyler Robertson, who made a great hustle play and shot on an offensive zone faceoff.

Add it all up, that's five check marks on the five key issues for this team, just as hoped for, just as expected.

The Oil Kings finally played their best game in the championship game, and that's a credit to the players, and also to the coaches, who kept this team advancing steadily ahead with a direct, heavy and winning style of play.

Post By http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2014/05/26/how-the-edmonton-oil-kings-defied-expectations-and-won-the-memorial-cup/