GDB #70 @ Kootenay

Oil Kings (69 47-15-3-4) vs Ice (69 36-25-4-4)

The Oil Kings are looking to increase their win streak to nine games tonight when they face the Kootenay Ice.  Edmonton is coming off an entertaining 7-4 win over the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday night at Rexall Place.  The Oil Kings erased a two goal deficit with three goals in 2:26 of the second period.  They controlled a very chippy game the rest of the way to pick up the win.  Michael St. Croix registered a goal and an assist to reach the one hundred point mark for the season.  Cody Corbett had a pair, while Dylan Wruck, TJ Foster, Kristians Pelss, and Martin Gernat added goals.

Kootenay has dropped their last two games, 3-1 at home against Medicine Hat and 3-2 in Spokane on Saturday.  The Ice are in a battle in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference for play-off seeding, and this has the potential to be a first round play-off series.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings



Season Series: The Oil Kings have taken all five games between the two clubs this year.  They have a shoot out and overtime victory to go with three regulation wins.  Last year Kootenay took all six games on their way to  a Western Hockey League Championship.

Up Next: The Kings continue their season ending three game road trip on Friday when they visit the Medicine Hat Tigers.  They wrap up the season on Saturday in Red Deer.  Kootenay finishes the year with a home and home with the Calgary Hitmen, beginning Friday in Cranbrook.

Stretch Drive: The Kings have two games left after tonight.  None at home, and two on the road (Medicine Hat, Red Deer). They have clinched a first spot overall in the Eastern Conference and are trail the Tri-City Americans by a single point for first overall.  Edmonton has a game in hand on the Amerks.

The Ice have two games left after tonight. One at home (Calgary), and one on the road (Calgary). Kootenay sits sixth in the Eastern Conference one point behind Saskatoon. The Ice and Pats are tied at 80 points, two up on Brandon who hold down the final playoff spot.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings 

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (42)
KTN- Max Reinhart (28)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (100)
KTN- Max Reinhart (76)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (40)
KTN-Nathan Lieuwen (27)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (137)
KTN- Jesse Ismond (99)

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)

KTY-  Max Reinhart- Flames (3rd, 2010), Joey Leach- Flames (3rd, 2010), Drew Czerwonka- Oilers (6th, 2010), Nathan Lieuwen- Sabres (6th, 2011).

Injury Report:

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

KTN: #19, Drew Czerwonka, Lower body, 1-3 weeks

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings 

Notes: Oil Kings forward Michael St. Croix is 8th in league scoring (100), Dylan Wruck is tied in 15th (80). Defenceman Martin Gernat is 7th in rookie scoring (52) and he is 8th in scoring amongst defencemen. Oil Kings netminder Laurent Brossoit is 3rd in GAA (2.47), and is 2nd in wins (40). For Kootenay, Sam Reinhart is tied in 4th in rookie scoring (59).  Nathan Lieuwen leads the WHL in GAA (2.38).  This is the sixth and final meeting between the two clubs this year. Pregame show at 6:45, the puck drops at 7:00 on the Team 1260.