Oil Kings capture WHL title

PORTLAND – It took one more day than they would’ve liked, but the Edmonton Oil Kings are Western Hockey League champions for the second time in three seasons.

Four different Oil Kings scored in a decisive second period as Edmonton won Game 7 of the WHL final 4-2 over the Portland Winterhawks.

In Sunday’s Game 6 in Edmonton, the Oil Kings watched a three-goal lead evaporate in the third period before losing 6-5.

Edmonton again built a three-goal lead through two periods on Monday, but didn’t let this one get away.

Mitch Moroz, Curtis Lazar, Reid Petryk and Mads Eller all scored in a four-goal second period for the Oil Kings and goaltender Tristan Jarry stopped 32 shots in victory.

Oliver Bjorkstrand and Brendan Leipsic scored for Portland, which got 29 saves from Brendan Burke.

Bjorkstrand scored his league-leading 16th goal of the playoffs – but his first of the final series – at 4:42 of the first to give the Winterhawks a 1-0 lead.

The Oil Kings busted out in the second period, though, scoring three times in less than six minutes to take command.

The Oil Kings are off to the Memorial Cup, which begins Friday in London, Ontario.