GDB #61 vs Kelowna

Oil Kings (60 39-14-3-4) vs Rockets (60 25-27-3-5)

The Oil Kings wrap up a quick two game home stand tonight when they face the Kelowna Rockets for the second time in a week.  The Kings are coming off a thrilling 5-4 shoot out win over the Medicine Hat Tigers on Monday afternoon.  They fell down 3-0 midway through the first period, but chipped away to tie it with just over five minutes left in the game.  Emerson Etem put the Tigers ahead with 2:41 left.  Dylan Wruck tied the game again, with his 20th of the season with 37 seconds left.  Tyler Maxwell and Martin Gernat scored in the shoot out to secure the two points.  Tristan Jarry picked up his sixth win of the year.

The Rockets are coming off a 4-3 shoot out win over the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday night. After falling behind 2-0, the Rockets rallied to lead 3-2, five minutes into the third period.  Mat Dumba tied it for Red Deer with 32 seconds left, but Damon Severson ended a seven round shoot out for the win.

Photo: Wayne Moore- Castanet

Season Series:  This is the third and final meeting 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 Oil Kings took the return matchup 6-3 last week in Kelowna.  They rallied from a 2-0 first period deficiet, scoring five times in the second to cruise to the victory.

Up Next: The Oil Kings hit the road for their final regular season matchup with the Calgary Hitmen on Friday night.  The Rocket are beginning a five game road trip here tonight, they are in Lethbridge on Friday night.

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (38)
KEL- Colton Sissons (26)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (92)
KEL- Shane McColgan (56)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (33)
KEL- Adam Brown (19)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (119)
KEL- Brett Lyon (126)

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,  2 weeks

KEL:  #5, Mitchell Chapman, Upper Body, 1 week
#10, Filip Vasko, Lower body, 2 weeks
#15, Colton Sissons, Upper body, 1 month+
#16, Spencer Main, Upper body, 1 month+

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is tied for 5th in league scoring (92), Dylan Wruck is tied in 12th (75). Defenceman Martin Gernat is tied in 8th in rookie scoring (44) and he tied in 9th in scoring amongst defencemen.  Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 4th in GAA (2.56), and is 3rd in wins (33).  For Kelowna, Carter Rigby is tied for 15th in rookie scoring (30).  This is the second of three meetings between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 6:45, the puck drops at 7:00 on the Team 1260.