GDB#10 @ Kootenay

Oil Kings (9 5-2-1-1) vs Ice (7 2-5-0-0)

The last two WHL Champions meet for the second time this season tonight in Cranbrook.  The Oil Kings fell 5-4 in a shoot out to the Calgary Hitmen on Friday night, in another wild back and forth game.  Henrik Samuelsson scored twice, Curtis Lazar and TJ Foster scored for the Kings.  Edmonton was 3-3 on the powerplay but were unable to beat Chris Driedger in the third period when they controlled the pace of the game.  The Ice won for the second time this season on Friday night when they knocked off the Blades 4-3.  Brock Montgomery lead the way with a pair of goals.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series:  The Oil Kings beat the Ice 5-3 on opening night in Edmonton, the lone matchup so far.  The clubs play six times this year, the next being a home and home in late November.

The Opposition: The Ice snapped a three game skid with their victory over Saskatoon on Friday.  They currently are last in the WHL's Eastern Conference with four points through seven games, and wrap up a six game homestand here tonight.  The Ice are a young team lead by Sam Reinhart, a top prospect for the 2014 NHL Draft, and by 20 year old veteran captain Drew Czerwonka.  Brock Montgomery currently leads the team with seven goals, no other member of the Ice has more than three.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- TJ Foster (8)

KTN- Brock Montgomery (7)

Points- EDM- Michael St. Croix (14)

KTN- Montgomery, Sam Reinhart (10)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (4)

KTN- MacKenzie Skapski (2)

PIMS- EDM- Travis Ewanyk (27)
KTN- Jeff Hubic (29)

Next Up: The Oil Kings open up a five game homestand on Wednesday when they host the Western Conference leading Kamloops Blazers.  The Kings also see Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, Kelowna and Vancouver during the stretch.  The Ice are in the midst of 12 of 13 games in Cranbrook.  They finish a six game homestand tonight, and don't play again until Friday in Red Deer.  They open another six game stand against Kamloops next Saturday.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

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).

KTN- Drew Czerwonka- Oilers (6th, 2010, unsigned), Joey Leach- Flames (3rd 2010, unsigned).
 

Draft Watch (NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Watch List)

A Skaters- Curtis Lazar (EDM),
B Skaters- Mason Geertsen (EDM)
C Skaters- Cody Corbett, Edgars Kulda, Ashton Sautner (EDM), Jon Martin (KTN), Spencer Wand (KTN)
B Goaltenders- Tristan Jarry (EDM)

Injury Report:

EDM: #7 Stephane Legault, lower body, week to week
#28 Martin Gernat, upper body, indefinite

KTN:  NoneRoster Notes:  Drew Czerwonka and Luke Philp have recently made their returns to the Kootenay lineup after injuries.
 

Notes: Michael St. Croix is tied for 7th in WHL scoring (14 points).  TJ Foster is 3rd in goal scoring (8).  The Oil Kings are 2nd in both power play and penalty kill percentage.  The Ice's PP is ranked 8th, their OK is 6th.  Tonight is one of four games on the schedule. Pregame at 5:45, puck drop at 6:00 on the Team 1260.