GDB #30 vs Calgary

Oil Kings (27 16-8-1-2) vs Calgary Hitmen (26 14-10-1-1)

The battle of Alberta continues at Rexall Place tonight at the Oil Kings face the Hitmen for the second time in a week.  The Oil Kings have won six straight games for the first time in modern franchise history, including a 6-1 win over the Hitmen on Thursday night.  Edmonton is coming off an 8-3 win over over the Saskatoon Blades, in which they scored five power play goals.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

The Hitmen are back in Edmonton after splitting a pair of weekend home games.  They beat Spokane 3-2 in OT, before dropping a 2-1 decision to Medicine Hat.  Chris Driedger started both games, while WHL Goalie of the Month, Brandon Glover last started in Edmonton.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Players to watch: 

Edmonton: Mark Pysyk.  The Oil King Captain has been playing some of his best hockey since returning to the lineup.  He has five points (1-4-5) in the three games.  He has been playing steady in his own end, rarely losing a battle, while leading the rush and playing physical too.  Pysyk leaves for the Canadian World Junior Camp on Saturday.

Calgary:  Victor Rask.  The Carolina Hurricane second round pick has enjoyed a solid start to his WHL career.  He leads the Hitmen with 15 goals in 29 games, and plays in all key situations.  Rask has been named to the Swedish team for the World Junior Hockey Championships.

Season Series: The Oil Kings took the first matchup 6-1 on Thursday night at Rexall Place.  The teams will hook up again, December 17, in Edmonton as well.  It will be the Oil Kings annual teddy bear toss night.  The teams will play three times in Calgary in the new year.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (16), Tyler Maxwell (16)

CGY- Victor Rask (15)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (41)

CGY- Cody Sylvester (29)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (16)
CGY- Chris Driedger (8)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (61)
CGY- Spencer Humphries (63)

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)

CGY- Jimmy Bubnick- Atlanta Thrashers (6th, 2009), Brooks Macek- Detroit Red Wings (6th, 2010), Victor Rask- Hurricanes (2nd, 2011), Alex Roach signed free agent (Los Angeles Kings)

Injury Report:

EDM:  #7, Stephane Legault, Illness, day to day
#15, David Stephens, Upper body, week to week
#21, Travis Ewanyk, Upper body, 1 month +


CGY:  #6, Keaton Lubin, Upper body, week to week
#12, Joe Kornelsen, Upper body, 1 week

Notes:  Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is 11th in league scoring (41), Dylan Wruck is 19th (33).  Defenceman Martin Gernat is tied for 6th in rookie scoring in the WHL with Calgary's Victor Rask (24 points), Curtis Lazar is tied for 15th (17 points). Gernat is also 5th in scoring amongst defencemen.  Gernat has also been named to Team Slovkia for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships.  Captain Mark Pysyk has been invited to participate in the selection camp for Team Canada.  Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 3rd in GAA (2.34).  This is the second of six meetings between the two clubs this year.  They will meet three times in Edmonton before the Christmas break.  Pregame show at 6:45, the puck drops at 7:00 on the Team 1260.