Jake Neighbours of Airdrie showed why the NHL's St. Louis Blues chose him as their first-round draft pick in 2020 last night (March 27) against the Hitmen in Calgary.  

Neighbours scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Oil Kings to their ninth straight win to start the year in the Western Hockey League, beating the Hitmen 5 - 2.

His effort led Neighbours to being chosen the first star of last night's matchup.  He now has four goals and 12 assists this season and has moved into second place in league scoring behind teammate Dylan Guenther.  Neighbours leads the league in assists.

For the Hitmen, Airdrie's Tristan Zandee was robbed in the second period on a close-in chance by Edmonton goaltender Sebastian Cossa.  Zandee was even on the night in plus/minus and had two shots on goal.

The teams are back in Edmonton this afternoon for their third meeting of the weekend.

Elsewhere in the WHL last night, Airdrie first-round draft pick Craig Armstrong and his Prince George Cougars were in action for the first time this season taking on the Kamloops Blazers.

Armstrong picked up an assist on the Cougars' fourth goal of the night.  However, it turned out to not be enough as Kamloops came back to score two third period goals for a 5 - 4 win.  

In other WHL play last night it was the Medicine Hat Tigers doubling the Lethbridge Hurricanes 6 - 3, the Seattle Thunderbirds scored a 3 - 2 win over the Portland Winter Hawks, the Tri-City Americans blanked the Spokane Chiefs 3 - 0 and the Raiders from Prince Albert beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 5 - 2. 

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