GDB #57 @ Kamloops

Oil Kings (56 37-12-3-4) vs Blazers (56 40-12-1-3)

The top two teams in the WHL meet tonight in Kamloops as the Oil Kings visit the Blazers.  Edmonton is coming off a 5-0 shut out victory in Prince George.  Rhett Rachinski led the way with his first WHL hat-trick.  Keegan Lowe was plus five with three assists.  Laurent Brossoit made 24 saves for his third shut out of the season.  The Kings now have points in five straight games, including four victories.  They lead the Eastern Conference with 81 points.

Kamloops has won four in a row, including back to back one goal victories over the Kelowna Rockets over the weekend.  The Blazers are the top team in the entire WHL with 84 points and sit in third in the country in the CHL Top Ten.  The Blazers feature a pair of former Oil Kings, goaltender Cam Lanigan and defender Marek Hrbas.

Season Series:  This is the second of two meetings this season.  Kamloops dominated the earlier matchup, winning 5-2.  It was the end of a road trip for Edmonton, and their fourth game in five nights, and Kamloops took full advantage outworking Edmonton and controlling the play.  

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Up Next: The Oil Kings are right back at it tomorrow night, facing the Kelowna Rockets.  The Rockets are in Seattle on Tuesday.  Edmonton wraps up their road trip Friday in Vancouver.  Tonight is game one of a four game home stand for Kamloops, they face Red Deer on Friday night.

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (36)
KAM- Brendan Ranford (32)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (87)
KAM- Ranford (72)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (32)
KAM- Cole Cheveldave (28)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (110)
KAM- JC Lipon (78)

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)

KAM-  Austin Madaisky- Columbus Blue Jackets (5th, 2010), Brendan Ranford- Philadelphia Flyers (7th, 2010).

Injury Report:

EDM: #21, Travis Ewanyk, Upper body, week to week
#22, Ryan Dech, Lower body, 1 month

KAM:  #17, Jordan DePape, Upper body, 1 month
#34, JC Lipon, Upper body, day to day

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is tied for 5th in league scoring (87), Dylan Wruck is 13th (71). Defenceman Martin Gernat is tied in 8th in rookie scoring (41) and he tied in 9th in scoring amongst defencemen. He also leads the league at +37.  Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 3rd in GAA (2.42), and is 3rd in wins (32).  For Kamloops, Brendan Ranford is tied for 10th in league scoring, Colin Smith is tied in 16th.  Tim Bozon is tied for the lead in rookie scoring (56).  Austin Madaisky is 8th in defencemen scoring (42).  Cole Cheveldave if 4th in both GAA (2.49) and wins (28).  This is the second and final meeting between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 7:45, the puck drops at 8:00 MT on the Team 1260.