GDB # 58 @ Kelowna

Oil Kings (57 37-13-3-4) vs Rockets (57 24-25-3-5)

The Oil Kings play game five of their six game road trip tonight against the Rockets.  The Kings are coming off a very disappointing 3-2 loss last night in Kamloops.  They controlled the pace for most of the first 40 minutes and had a 2-0 lead heading into the third period.  The wheels came off, as the Oil Kings looked tired, and the Blazers took advantage scoring three times.  Matt Needham capped the comeback with a minute to go in regulation as he banged home a rebound behind Laurent Brossoit.  It was a great crowd in Kamloops, just over 5000 took in the showdown of the top two teams in the league, and they went home happy.

Kelowna also played last night losing 4-3 in a shootout in Seattle.  They were down 3-1 after the first period but Zach Franko and Myles Bell, on a penalty shot with less than a minute left in regulation, tied it to force overtime.  The Rockets are now winless in their last four games, but have two loser points in that stretch.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series:  This is the second of three meetings between the clubs this year.  The Rockets took the first in a very tight 2-1 shoot out win in November.  Zach Franko ended an eight round shoot out, Kristians Pelss and Colton Sissons traded first period goals.  Laurent Brossoit and Jordan Cooke took over after that in between the pipes.  The teams hook up again in Edmonton a week from tonight.

Up Next: The Oil Kings head to Vancouver to wrap up the trip when they face the Giants for the third time this season.  The Rockets are opening up a three game homestand, they host Calgary on Friday night.

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (36)
KEL- Colton Sissons (26)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (87)
KEL- Shane McColgan (56)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (32)
KEL- Adam Brown (18)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (112)
KEL- Mitch Chapman (101)

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

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)

KEL-  Brett Bulmer- Minnesota Wild (2nd , 2010), Shane McColgan- Rangers (5th, 2011).

Injury Report:

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

KEL:  #5, Mitchell Chapman, Upper Body, 1-2 weeks
#10, Filip Vasko, Lower body, 3 weeks
#14, Cody Chikie, Upper body, day to day
#15, Colton Sissons, Upper body, 1 month+
#16, Spencer Main, Upper body, 1 month+
#27, Jessey Astles, Upper body, day to day

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is 6th in league scoring (87), Dylan Wruck is 14th (71). Defenceman Martin Gernat is tied in 8th in rookie scoring (41) and he tied in 10th in scoring amongst defencemen. He also leads the league at +36.  Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 3rd in GAA (2.44), and is 3rd in wins (32).  For Kelowna, Carter Rigby is 15th in rookie scoring (30).  This is the second 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.