GDB #6

Oil Kings (5 2-1-1-1) vs Moose Jaw Warriors (5 4-1-0-0)

Tonight the Oil Kings open up a gruelling portion of their schedule with 5 games in 6 nights in 3 provinces.  The Kings make their first visit to Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw to square off with the streaking Moose Jaw Warriors.  The Warriors dropped their home opener to the Brandon Wheat Kings and since have won four straight.  The Kings have picked up points in their last two games including a win on Wednesday at Rexall Place. 

The Kings ended a long drought with the win over the Ice.  They hadn’t been able to get a W over Kootenay since March 11 2009.  Martin Gernat extended his points streak to 5 games drawing an assist on TJ Foster’s third period goal.  Gernat and Foster also scored in the shootout in the 2-1 win.  Laurent Brossoit was solid making 20 saves on 21 shots.

Photo: Andy Devlin

Players to watch:

Edmonton: TJ Foster.  The quick skating forward is off t o a fast start offensively for Edmonton with 3 goals and 5 points in 5 games.  While some of the vets are still trying to get on track Foster has hit the ground running producing on any line he has been on and on the power play.  He is Oil Kings active leader in games played at 205.

MOOSE JAW TIMES-HERALD PHOTO BY JEFF D'ANDREA


Moose Jaw:  Brett Lyon.  The 20 year old is off to a great start to the season.  Not known as an offensive player registering 12 points last season, Lyon has 4 goals and 9 points in the first 5 games.  He is also not afraid to mix things up posting 192 PIMS split between Vancouver and Moose Jaw last year.

Last Year:

The Kings were 1-2-0-1 against Moose Jaw last year.  They were 0-2 at the Crushed Can, while they picked up an early season win at Rexall Place.  The Kings finished with an all-time record of 2-4-1-1 at the old Civic Centre.  Moose Jaw won 40 games last season, before being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of the eventual champion Kootenay Ice.

Leaders:

Goals- Edm- Foster, Gernat (3)

MJ- Lyon (4)

Points- EDM- Gernat (8)

MJ- Lyon (9)

Drafted:

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)

MJ- Dylan McIlrath Rangers (1^st ‘10), Quentin Howden Florida Panthers(1^st ‘10), Cody Beach St. Louis Blues (5^th ‘10), Kendall McFaull Winnipeg Jets (6^th ’10), Joel Edmundson Blues (2^nd’11)

Notes:  Defenceman Griffen Reinhart will not be in the Oil Kings lineup tonight as he begins to serve a suspension for a knee on knee hit in the Kootenay game.  No official word on the length of the ban as of yet.  Moose Jaw will be without Cody Beach as he continues to serve a seven game suspension he received on opening night.  Warriors forward and first round pick Quinton Howden has yet play this season he was injured at Florida Panthers Camp.