EDMONTON - Henrik Samuelsson's first career hat trick led the Edmonton Oil Kings to a 6-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League on Monday.
Keegan Lowe also had a pair of goals while Mitchell Moroz added a single for Edmonton (25-8-5) in the first of four meetings between the two clubs. Edmonton won last year's season series 3-1.
Tim McGauley and Richard Nejezchleb had the goals for Brandon (14-21-4).
Moroz opened up the scoring for the Oil Kings at 10:30 of the first period, taking the puck just inside the left faceoff circle and wiring it above the glove of Brandon netminder Corbin Boes.
Samuelsson doubled Edmonton's lead 1:14 later, streaking in on the right wing and beating Boes to the blocker side.
McGauley pulled Brandon back within one with 3:18 remaining, corralling a rebound off Oil King netminder Laurent Brossoit's left pad and tucking it home.
Lowe restored Edmonton's two-goal margin at 2:56 of the second, letting loose a cannon from the point through traffic to make it 3-1 Oil Kings.
Samuelsson added his second of the game at 8:48, finishing off a goalmouth scramble from a sharp angle to put Edmonton up by three.
Lowe and Samuelsson's third period power-play goals put the game out of reach for Brandon before Nejezchleb's late goal with 3:38 remaining.
Boes stopped 30 shots in net for the Wheat Kings, while Brossoit turned aside 21 for Edmonton.
The Oil Kings have allowed two goals or less against in 23 of their 38 games.
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