Oil Kings (4 3-1-0-0) vs Raiders (4 3-0-0-1)
The Oil Kings finally are back on the ice tonight after a long layoff. Their last game, Friday at Rexall was a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Calgary Hitmen. It was the Kings first loss of the season and snapped the team's 14 game regular season winning streak. TJ Foster tallied the lone goal for Edmonton. The Raiders are coming off a 5-4 shoot out win over the Red Deer Rebels on Tuesday in PA. They have lost just once this season as well, on opening night in a shoot out to Saskatoon.
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| Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings |
Last Year: The Oil Kings were 4-0 last season against the Raiders, and have controlled the all-time season series as well, with a 14-3-1-2 record. The Kings outscored the Raiders 22-9 in 2011-12. Prince Albert finished last overall in the WHL last season posting 21 wins and 48 points.
The Opposition: The Raiders are showing to be a much improved squad so far in the young WHL season. Mark McNeill, the 2011 first round pick of the Blackhawks, is leading the way with six points in the first four games. The Raiders have added some depth to their lineup with aquisitions like Dakota Conroy, Leon Draisaitl, Shayne Gwinner and goalie Luke Siemens.
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| Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings |
Leaders:
Goals- EDM- Curtis Lazar (4)
PA- Mark McNeill, Dakota Conroy, Logan McVeigh, Antoine Corbin, Anthony Bardaro (2)
Points- EDM- Michael St. Croix (6)
PA- McNeill (6)
Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (2)
Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (2)
PA- Luke Siemens (3)
PIMS- EDM- Mason Geertsen (16)
PA- Josh Morrissey (10)
Next Up: The Oil Kings wrap up their three game homestand on Saturday night when the Blades make their first trip to Edmonton. The Oil Kings will head to Calgary after the game for a Sunday matinee with the Hitmen. The Raiders open up a four game road trip tonight at Rexall. They are in Calgary tomorrow and have stops in Kootenay and Lethbridge before heading back to Saskatchewan.
Drafted:
EDM- Keegan Lowe- Carolina Hurricanes (3rd, 2011), Travis Ewanyk- Edmonton Oilers (3rd, 2011), Michael St. Croix- New York Rangers (4th, 2011), Martin Gernat- Oilers (5th, 2011), Laurent Brossoit- Calgary Flames (6th, 2011), Griffin Reinhart- New York Islanders (1st, 2012), Henrik Samuelsson- Phoenix Coyotes (1st, 2012), Mitch Moroz- Oilers (2nd, 2012).
PA- Mark McNeill- Chicago Blackhawks (1st, 2011), Harrison Ruopp- Coyotes (3rd, 2011) Mike Winther- Dallas Stars (2nd, 2012).
Draft Watch (NHL Central Scouting Preliminery Watch List)
A Skaters- Curtis Lazar (EDM), Josh Morrissey (PA)
B Skaters- Mason Geertsen (EDM)
C Skaters- Cody Corbett, Edgars Kulda, Ashton Sautner (EDM), Chance Braid (PA)
B Goaltenders- Tristan Jarry (EDM)
Injury Report:
EDM:
#11 Dylan Wruck, Upper body, day to day
Next Up: The Oil Kings wrap up their three game homestand on Saturday night when the Blades make their first trip to Edmonton. The Oil Kings will head to Calgary after the game for a Sunday matinee with the Hitmen. The Raiders open up a four game road trip tonight at Rexall. They are in Calgary tomorrow and have stops in Kootenay and Lethbridge before heading back to Saskatchewan.
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| Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings |
EDM- Keegan Lowe- Carolina Hurricanes (3rd, 2011), Travis Ewanyk- Edmonton Oilers (3rd, 2011), Michael St. Croix- New York Rangers (4th, 2011), Martin Gernat- Oilers (5th, 2011), Laurent Brossoit- Calgary Flames (6th, 2011), Griffin Reinhart- New York Islanders (1st, 2012), Henrik Samuelsson- Phoenix Coyotes (1st, 2012), Mitch Moroz- Oilers (2nd, 2012).
PA- Mark McNeill- Chicago Blackhawks (1st, 2011), Harrison Ruopp- Coyotes (3rd, 2011) Mike Winther- Dallas Stars (2nd, 2012).
Draft Watch (NHL Central Scouting Preliminery Watch List)
A Skaters- Curtis Lazar (EDM), Josh Morrissey (PA)
B Skaters- Mason Geertsen (EDM)
C Skaters- Cody Corbett, Edgars Kulda, Ashton Sautner (EDM), Chance Braid (PA)
B Goaltenders- Tristan Jarry (EDM)
Injury Report:
EDM:
#11 Dylan Wruck, Upper body, day to day
#28 Martin Gernat, upper body, indefinite
PA: #7 Zach Hodder, upper body, week-to-week
#15 Mike Winther, lower body, day-to-day
#16 Tim Vanstone, lower body, week-to-week
#16 Tim Vanstone, lower body, week-to-week
Roster notes: Dyan Wruck is expected to make his season debut for Edmonton. Cody Corbett makes his return to the Kings lineup after missing last game at the USA Hockey Prospects Game. Keegan Lowe and Stephen Shmoorkoff are gametime decisions with lower body injuries. Raiders defenceman Antoine Corbin has survived the first round of cuts in Hamilton where he is a free agent invite to the Bulldogs (AHL) camp.
Notes: Tigers forward Hunter Shinkaruk has been named this week's WHL Player of the Week. The Oil Kings remain #2 in the CHL Top Ten, they have been ranked second for each ranking period this season. Tonight is the lone game on the WHL schedule. It is the first of four meetings between the two clubs this season. Pregame at 6:45, puck drop at 7:00 on the Team 1260.
