GDB #64 @ Kootenay

Oil Kings (63 41-15-3-4) vs Ice (63 34-21-4-4)

The Oil Kings hit the road for a single game in Cranbrook when they face the defending WHL Champion Kootenay Ice tonight.  The Kings have won back to back games after knocking off the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon.  They roared out to a 3-0 lead in the first ten and a half minutes, with a pair of  Mitch Moroz goals and a Tyler Maxwell powerplay marker.  It seemed the Kings then backed off a bit, and the Hurricanes found their legs to keep it tight the rest of the way until Stephane Legault sealed it with an empty netter.


The Ice are back home after a four game road trip out east.  They picked up bookend wins in Brandon and Prince Albert.  They fell behind the Raiders 3-1 in the the first, but Max Reinhart led the rally recording a pair of goals and two assists.  Reinhart tied the game on a penalty shot in the third period and set up his brother Sam for the winner 19 seconds into overtime.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series:  Edmonton has had success against the Ice this year, winning all four previous matchups.  They knocked off the Ice 2-1 in a shootout in their first game and followed that up with 6-1, 3-2 (overtime) and 3-1 victories.  The teams play one final time in the regular season on March 14 in Cranbrook.

Up Next: The Oil Kings return home for three games, beginning on Saturday when they host the Swift Current Broncos.  Saskatoon visits Sunday, the Moose Jaw Warriors are in town on Wednesday for a showdown for top spot in the Eastern Conference.  The Ice open a two game home stand tonight.  They face Calgary on Saturday.

Stretch Drive:  The Kings have eight games left after tonight.  Four at home (Swift Current, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Red Deer), and four on the road (Red Deer, Kootenay, Medicine Hat, Red Deer).  The Kings have clinched a playoff spot and lead the Eastern Conference by four points over Moose Jaw.  They lead the Central Division by eight points over Medicine Hat.  

The Ice have eight games left after tonight.  Four at home (Calgary, Medicine Hat, Edmonton, Calgary), and four on the road (Swift Current, Medicine Hat, Spokane, Calgary).  The Ice are fifth in the Eastern Conference with 76 points.  They trail Calgary by one point for 4th, and lead Saskatoon by two for 5th.

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (39)
KTN- Max Reinhart, Sam Reinhart (26)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (95)
KTN- Max Reinhart (70)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (35)
KTN- Nathan Lieuwen (25)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (129)
KTN- Jesse Ismond (93)

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)

KTY-  Max Reinhart- Flames (3rd, 2010), Joey Leach- Flames (3rd, 2010), Drew Czerwonka- Oilers (6th, 2010), Nathan Lieuwen- Sabres (6th, 2011).

Injury Report:

EDM: #22, Ryan Dech, Lower body,  day to day

KTY:  #6, Luke Paulsen, Upper body, day to day
#19, Drew Czerwonka, Lower body, 3-5 weeks

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is 8th in league scoring (95), Dylan Wruck is tied in 14th (75). Defenceman Martin Gernat is 8th in rookie scoring (47) and he is 8th in scoring amongst defencemen.  Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 3rd in GAA (2.51), and is tied for 2nd in wins (35).  For Kootenay, Sam Reinhart is 3rd in rookie scoring (57).  Joey Leach is tied for 18th in scoring amongst defencemen (38).  Nathan Lieuwen leads the WHL in GAA (2.39), he is third in save percentage (.918).  This is the fifth of six meetings between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 6:45, the puck drops at 7:00 on the Team 1260.