Wednesday, October 12, 2011

GDB #10



Oil Kings (9 5-2-1-1) vs Kootenay Ice (7 4-1-0-2)











The Kings wrap up their 5 game trip tonight at the RecPlex in Cranbrook, BC, facing the Kootenay Ice for the 2nd time in a week.  The Kings scored a convincing win last night in Lethbridge, downing the Hurricanes 5-1.  Edmonton had five different goal scores in a feisty game that featured five third period fights.  


The Oil Kings have played four times since their last matchup with the Ice on Oct 5th.  Meanwhile Kootenay has enjoyed a break in their schedule with just one game in Red Deer since the evening at Rexall Place.  Kootenay took that game 2-1 and have points in their last couple games.


Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings
Players to watch: 

Edmonton:  Rhett Rachinski.  The 20 year old Oil King vet has been off to a great start to the season.  Known as a defensive forward, faceoff man and penalty killer, Rachinski has added offence to his game this year.  He is coming off a three point night in Lethbridge and has posted 3-4-7 in 9 games this season.

Kootenay:  Nathan Lieuwen.
Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings
The 20 year old netwminder is a draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres.  He has been the backbone of the Kootenay defence, posted fantastic numbers again this year.  In six appearences he is 3-1-0-2 with a 1.30 GAA and a .952 save percentage.


Season series:  It was a very physical game in the first matchup of this six game season series.  The Oil Kings trailed 1-0 through 40 minutes, but TJ Foster's powerplay goal tied the score in the third.  OT solved nothing and the game headed for a shootout where Martin Gernat answered Kootenay's Max Reinhart's attempt with an absoloute beauty.

Leaders:
Goals
EDM- Martin Gernat (5) 
KTY- Max Reinhart (4)

Points
EDM- Gernat (13)
KTY- Joey Leach Elgin Pearce, Max Reinhart, Brock Montgomery (6)


Drafted: EDM- Mark Pysyk-Buffalo Sabres (1st Round, 2010), Kristians Pelss- Edmonton Oilers (7th, 2010), Keegan Lowe- Carolina Hurricanes (3rd, 2011), Travis Ewanyk- Oilers (3rd, 2011), Michael St. Croix- New York Rangers (4th, 2011), Martin Gernat- Oilers (5th, 2011), Laurent Brossoit- Calgary Flames (6th, 2011)


KTY- Max Reinhart- Flames (3rd, 2010), Drew Czerwonka- Oilers (6th, 2010), Nathan Lieuwen- Sabres (6th, 2011)


Notes:  Defenceman Griffen Reinhart will not be in the Oil Kings lineup tonight as he serves the final game of his five game suspension for a knee on knee collision against Kootenay last week.  Brendan Hurley who received the Reinhart check is expected to mix 6-8 weeks with a lower body injury according the Ice.  Edmonton is 2-7-1-2 all time in Cranbrook.  Stephane Legault is riding a three game point streak (4-1-5).  Jordan Peddle registered his first point as an Oil King with an assist in Lethbridge.  Mitch Moroz has goals in back to back games.  Pregame show at 6:45, the puck drops at 7:00 on the Team 1260.