GDB #56 @ Prince George

Oil Kings (55 36-12-3-4) vs Cougars (53 17-34-0-2)

The Kings and Cougars are right back it again tonight in Prince George.  The Cougars came out on top last night in a thrilling 5-4 overtime finish.  PG had a one nothing lead after 20 minutes, goaltender Drew Owsley was fantastic in the early going until Dylan Wruck tied it in the second.  The Kings would open up a 3-1 lead early in the third with a pair of power play goals by Michael St. Croix and Rhett Rachinski.  The Cats would claw back to tie it briefly, before St. Croix put the Kings ahead again.  Campbell Elynuik would be the hero in OT.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

The Kings will need a better effort tonight to earn two point against the upstart Cougars.  Prince George is the lowest scoring team in the WHL, but they never stop working and that can keep them in games.  Drew Owsley has been good for the Cougars as well stopping 98 of 107 shots in the two games against Edmonton.

Season Series:  This is the third and final meeting between the clubs this year. Edmonton is 1-0-1-0 in the two matchups.  

Up Next: The Oil Kings head for Kelowna tomorrow morning, and will base out of the city for a few days.  They face the top team in the WHL, the Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday, before playing the Rockets on Wednesday.  The Cougars wrap up a five game homestand on Wednesday against the Red Deer Rebels.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (36)
PG- Spencer Asuchak (14)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (87)
PG- Troy Bourke (37)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (31)
PG- Drew Owsley (16)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (110)
PG- Campbell Elynuik (122)

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)

PG-  Ricard Blidstrand- Philadelphia Flyers (7th, 2010).

Injury Report:

EDM: #21, Travis Ewanyk, Upper body, week to week
#22, Ryan Dech, Lower body, 1 month
#27 Curtis Lazar, Lower Body, TBD

PG: #2, Dan Gibb, Upper body, 1-2 weeks
#21, Shane Pilling, Upper body, day to day

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is tied for 3rd in league scoring (87), Dylan Wruck is tied in 10th (71). Defenceman Martin Gernat is tied in 8th in rookie scoring (41) and he tied in 8th in scoring amongst defencemen. He also leads the league at +37.  Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 3rd in GAA (2.48), and is 3rd in wins (31).  For Prince George, Alex Forsberg is tied in 11th in rookie scoring (31).  The Oil Kings have scored a league high 239 goals, the Cougars a league low 119.  This is the third of three meetings between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 7:45, the puck drops at 8:00 MT on the Team 1260.