GDB #71 @ Medicine Hat

Oil Kings (70 48-15-3-4) vs Tigers (70 42-23-2-3)

Coming off a thrilling 5-4 overtime win in Cranbrook over the Ice, the Oil Kings play the penultimate game of their regular season tonight in Medicine Hat.  The Kings led the Ice 1-0 after the first period on a great shot by Rhett Rachinski.  They would trail the Ice three times throughout the game and fought back to tie it each time.  Michael St. Croix, Cole Benson and Tristan Sieben added regulation goals before Kristians Pelss played the hero scoring his 27th of the season in overtime.

Medicine Hat opened up a three game homestand to finish off the season on Wednesday with a 4-2 loss to Red Deer.  They had won two straight heading into the game.  The Tigers boast one of the best one-two punches offensively in the league with 60 goal man Emerson Etem, and 2013 draft eligible Hunter Shinkaruk.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series: The Oil Kings have won the last three games between the two clubs after the Tigers won the first two meetings early in the season.  The Oil Kings also snapped their 14 game losing skid at the Medicine Hat Arena on January 12th with a 6-2 win, in which they chased Oiler draft pick Tyler Bunz after 40 minutes.

Up Next: The Kings wrap up the regular season tomorrow night in Red Deer.  The only thing that may be on the line for Edmonton could be first overall in the WHL depending on action tonight.  The Tigers also finish their regular season tomorrow at home against the Hurricanes.

Stretch Drive: The Kings have one game left after tonight, on the road (Red Deer). They have clinched a first spot overall in the Eastern Conference and lead the Tri-City Americans by a single point for first overall.

The Tigers have one game left after tonight, at home (Lethbridge). They sit third in the Eastern Conference, leading Calgary by two points.  They have clinched home ice in the first round.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings 

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (43)
MH- Emerson Etem (60)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (101)
MH- Etem (105)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (40)
MH-Tyler Bunz (39)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (137)
MH- Kale Kessey (147)

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)

MH- Emerson Etem- Anaheim Ducks (1st, 2010), Alex Theriau- Dallas Stars (4th, 2010), Tyler Bunz- Oilers (5th, 2010), Kale Kessy- Phoenix Coyotes (4th, 2011).

Injury Report:

EDM: #11, Dylan Wruck, Upper body, day to day

MH: #5, Tyler Lewington, Lower body, 1 week
#7, Spenser Jensen, Upper body, day to day
#10, Gavin Broadhead, Upper body, 1 week
#19, Jayden Hart, Upper body, 2 weeks
#28, Rhyse Dieno, Upper body, 1 month+
#36, Trevor Cox, Upper body, 1 week

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings 

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is 8th in league scoring (101), Dylan Wruck is tied in 16th (80). Defenceman Martin Gernat is 6th in rookie scoring (54) and he is tied in 7th in scoring amongst defencemen. Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 3rd in GAA (2.47), and is 2nd in wins (40). For Medicine Hat, Emerson Etem is 7th in scoring (105), he leads the league in goals (60).  Hunter Shinkaruk is tied in 12th in scoring (88).  James Bettauer is tied in 5th in scoring amongst defencemen (55), Matthew Konan is tied in 9th (51).  Bettauer leads dmen in goal scoring (21).  Tyler Bunz is 4th  in GAA (2.51), is third in wins (39) and leads the league in save percentage (.923).  This is the sixth and final meeting between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 7:15, the puck drops at 7:30 on the Team 1260.