GDB #29 @ Lethbridge

Oil Kings(28 18-5-2-3) @ Hurricanes(32 14-14-1-3)

The Oil Kings and Hurricanes play the back half of a home and home tonight at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge.  The Oil Kings held on to win a wild affair 4-3 at Rexall Place on Sunday night.  The Kings were up 3-0 early in the second period, but allowed the 'Canes to storm back and tie it before Curtis Lazar scored his second of the game on the power play late in the 2nd.  Lazar had not scored in the previous 14 games.  Tristan Jarry made 19 saves for his 7th win of the season.

Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Season Series- The Oil Kings have defeated the Hurricanes in both matchups so far this season.  Jarry has been the goalie of record both times.  He and the Oil Kings shut out the Hurricanes in Lethbridge 3-0 early in the year before winning on Sunday.  The game in Lethbridge featured a stellar performance from Hurricane netminder and Edmonton native, Ty Rimmer.  The 20 year old goalie made 57 saves in the losing effort.
 

The Opposition: Hurricanes have been up and down this season so far.  Between October 17 and November 9 they lost only once is regulation over a 12 game stretch.  But they have only one victory in their last nine heading into tonight.  They are a young team coming off a 29 win season last year.  They sit 5th in the Eastern Conference, playing a league high 32 games to this point.





Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Leaders:

Goals- EDM- Michael St. Croix (14)

LET- Russell Maxwell (15)

Points- EDM- St. Croix (37)

LET- Maxwell (30)

Wins- EDM- Laurent Brossoit (11)

LET- Ty Rimmer (13)

PIMS- EDM- Keegan Lowe (72)
LET- Jamian Yakubowski (87)

Next Up:  The Kings return to Edmonton and open a home and home set with the Calgary Hitmen.  They host Calgary on Friday night in their Teddy Bear Toss game before squaring off at the Saddledome on Saturday.  The 'Canes open a six game homestand tonight.  They host the Tigers on Friday.



Photo: Edmonton Oil Kings

Drafted: EDM- David Musil- Edmonton Oilers (2nd, 2011), 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), Griffin Reinhart- New York Islanders (1st, 2012), Henrik Samuelsson- Phoenix Coyotes (1st, 2012), Mitch Moroz- Oilers (2nd, 2012).

LET- None

Draft Watch (CSS Preliminary 2013 North American Rankings in Western Hockey League)
EDM- #8 Curtis Lazar, #2 (goalies)Tristan Jarry
LET- none

Injury Report:

EDM:
#4 Keegan Lowe, lower body, day to day
#21Travis Ewanyk, lower body, day to day

#28 Martin Gernat, upper body, 1 month plus

LET:
#8 Tyler Wong, upper body, 1 week
#16 Reid Duke, upper body, 1 week

Roster Notes: Mike Sofillas and Graham Hood have both returned from injury for the Hurricanes.  Martin Gernat has begun skating in Edmonton as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

Notes: Michael St. Croix is tied in 10th in scoring (37).  Tristan Jarry leads the league in GAA (1.50), Laurent Brossoit is 9th (2.56).  Hurricane Jamian Yakubowski leads the WHL in PIMs (87).  Axel Blomqvist is 7th in rookie scoring (18).  Daniel Johnston is tied in 7th in scoring amongst defencemen (22).  The The Oil Kings lead the league in both power play and penalty kill percentage.  The Hurricane's PP is ranked 16th, their PK is 14th. Tonight is one of five games on the schedule and is the third of six meetings between the teams. Pregame at 6:55, puck drop at 7:00 on the Team 1260.