The Edmonton Oil Kings are back on even terms with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the chase for the Ed Chynoweth Memorial Trophy.
The Oil Kings rode on the broad shoulders of six-foot-five, 220-pound defenceman Luke Prokop to a 5-4 victory in Game 2 of the best-of-seven WHL final series Sunday in Edmonton which tied the series 1-1.
Prokop scored two goals and assisted on two others, including the game-winner from Brendan Kuny, 8:46 into the third period. Kuny got his stick on Prokop’s point shot and deflected the puck in behind T-birds’ goalie Thomas Milic.
Prokop, an Edmonton native, was a third-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators in 2020.
Seattle tied the game 4-4 with consecutive power-play goals early in the third period. Jared Davidson struck for his team-leading 12th goal of the playoffs 26 seconds in and Lukas Svejkovsky also scored with the man advantage with his second goal of the game 2:50 into the third.
Carter Souch also scored for Edmonton. Matthew Rempe notched the other Seattle goal.
Sebastian Cossa made 26 saves as the Oil Kings outshot Seattle 41-30.
The T-birds beat Edmonton 2-1 in Game 1 on Friday,
Prince George minor hockey product Nico Myatovic is a 17-year-old winger in his rookie season with the T-birds.
The series resumes with Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday in Seattle. Both will be televised on TSN.
Game 5 of the series, if needed, would be played on Edmonton on Saturday. If Games 6 and 7 are needed, they would also be in the Alberta capital on Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 14.
