GDB #67 vs Moose Jaw

Oil Kings (66 44-15-3-4) vs Warriors (66 41-18-5-2)

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference face off tonight at Rexall Place.  The Oil Kings lead the Warriors by six points for the number one seed in the east.  Edmonton has won five straight games after a 3-1 victory over the Saskatoon Blades on Sunday night.  TJ Foster, Michael St. Croix (with his team leading 41st), and Curtis Lazar with his first goal since January 28th scored for Edmonton.  Laurent Brossoit was credited with 16 saves.


The Warriors played last night, losing 2-1 in Lethbridge.  The loss snapped a four game winning streak for Moose Jaw who can clinch the Eastern Division with any combination of one point earned, or one lost by the Regina Pats.  Edmonton's magic number for the Central is three points earned or three lost by the Medicine Hat Tigers.  Moose Jaw starter Luke Siemens had started six straight coming into action tonight.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series: The Kings lead the series this year 2-0-0-1 over the Warriors.  If the teams were to finished tied atop the Eastern Conference the Kings would hold the tie breaker.  All three games have been tight affairs, the Kings winning the first two by scores of 3-1, and 2-1.  Moose Jaw won the last meeting 4-3 in a shoot out.

Up Next: The Kings wrap up a three game homestand with tonight's tilt.  They will be in Red Deer Friday in the front half of a home and home.  The Rebels will be in Edmonton on Saturday in the Oil Kings final home game of the regular season.  The Warriors complete a three game road trip in Regina on Friday night.

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

The Warriors have five games left after tonight. Two at home (Regina, Prince Albert), and three on the road (Regina, Brandon, Prince Albert). Moose Jaw has clinched a playoff spot, and are second in the conference, trailing the Kings by six points.  They lead the Eastern Division by 12 points over the Regina Pats.

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (41)
MJ- Cam Braes (38)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (98)
MJ- Braes (76)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (37)
MJ- Luke Siemens (33)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (133)
MJ- Cody Beach (208)

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)

MJ- Dylan McIlrath- Rangers (1st, 2010), Quinton Howden- Florida Panthers(1st, 2010), Cody Beach- St. Louis Blues (5th, 2010), Kendall McFaull-Winnipeg Jets (6th, 2010), Joel Edmundson- Blues (2nd, 2011).

Injury Report:

EDM: None to report

MJ:  #4, Morgan Rielly, Lower body, 1 month

Photo: Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is 8th in league scoring (98), Dylan Wruck is tied in 16th (77). Defenceman Martin Gernat is 8th in rookie scoring (47) and he is tied in 11th in scoring amongst defencemen. Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 2nd in GAA (2.46), and is tied for 2nd in wins (37). For Moose Jaw, Cam Braes is 18th in scoring (76). Cody Beach leads the league in PIMs (208).  Luke Siemens is 4th in GAA (2.52) and 4th in wins (33). This is the fourth and final meeting between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 6:45, the puck drops at 7:00 on the Team 1260.