GDB #55 @ Prince George

Oil Kings (54 36-12-2-4) vs Cougars (52 16-34-0-2)

The Kings continue their road trip tonight, opening up at two game set at the CN Centre in Prince George.  They are coming off a bizarre 9-5 win in Calgary on Wednesday night.  Both Tyler Maxwell and TJ Foster netted hat-tricks, while Tristan Sieban, Rhett Rachinski and Stephane Legault tallied a goal.  Martin Gernat was plus four with a pair of assists.  It was the third time in five meetings where the Oil Kings chased Calgary's starting netminder.  With the win Edmonton closed to within two points of Kamloops for top spot in the entire WHL.

Tonight they face the team with the least amount of points in the league this season, the Prince George Cougars.  The Cats haven't played since last weekend where they dropped a pair of home games to the Kelowna Rockets.  They have lost eight of their last nine games.  It does sound like they will have some good news this weekend though, as Alex Forsberg, Drew Owsley, Jarrett Fontaine and Caleb Belter could all return from injuries.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series:  This is the second of three meetings between the clubs this year.  They meet again Saturday night as well.  Edmonton took the first matchup 5-0 at Rexall Place last month.  Laurent Brossoit earned his second shutout of the season making 26 saves.  The Kings peppered Cougar netminder Drew Owlsey with 50 shots.

Up Next: Like previously mentioned these teams square off again tomorrow night wrapping up their season series.  The Oil Kings then continue their road trip in Kamloops Tuesday.  The Cougars welcome the Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (34)
PG- Spencer Asuchak (14)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (84)
PG- Troy Bourke (35)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (31)
PG- Drew Owsley (15)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (108)
PG- Campbell Elynuik (122)

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)

PG-  Ricard Blidstrand- Philadelphia Flyers (7th, 2010).

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Injury Report:
EDM: #21, Travis Ewanyk, Upper body, week to week
#22, Ryan Dech, Lower body, 1 month
#27 Curtis Lazar, Lower Body, TBD

PG: #2, Dan Gibb, Upper body, 1-2 weeks
#4, Linden Springer, Lower body, day to day
#6, Jesse Forsberg, Upper body, day to day
#17, Caleb Belter, Upper body, day to day
#21, Shane Pilling, Upper body, day to day
#27, Alex Forsberg, Lower body, day to day
#29, Reid Jackson, Illness day to day
#30, Drew Owsley, Lower body, day to day
#32, Jarret Fontaine, Upper body, week to wee

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is 5th in league scoring (84), Dylan Wruck is 12th (69). Defenceman Martin Gernat is tied in 8th in rookie scoring (40) and he tied in 9th in scoring amongst defencemen. He also leads the league at +36.  Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 4th in GAA (2.48), and is 3rd in wins (31).  Krisitans Pelss will serve the 3rd game of a three game suspension tonight. For Prince George, Alex Forsberg is 14th in rookie scoring (29).  The Oil Kings have scored a league high 235 goals, the Cougars a league low 114.  This is the second of three meetings between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 7:45, the puck drops at 8:00 MT on the Team 1260.