GAME DAY: Oil Kings take on the Ice in Cranbrook
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Cranbrook, BC - The Edmonton Oil Kings will look to remain unbeaten in 2013 as they take on the Kootenay Ice tonight in Cranbrook, BC. This will be the fifth of six meetings between these two clubs this season with the final game coming on January 30th in Edmonton. Thus far in 2012-13 the Oil Kings have posted a record of 2-1-0-1 vs the Ice.
Following a 5-3 win in the Oil Kings Home opener Edmonton fell 1-0 and 5-4 in a shootout in Cranbrook. Edmonton then rebounded with a 2-0 win on November 30th in the City of Champions. In the last five seasons the Oil Kings have a record of 12-13-0-3 vs the Ice. This does not include Edmonton’s 4-0 sweep of the Ice in the opening round of the 2012 WHL Playoffs. Edmonton dominated play in that series as they outscored the Ice 16-7 and outshot the 2011 Champs 137-95 for the series.
The Oil Kings high octane offense is firing on all cylinders with four players currently in the top 20 of the WHL scoring race. Michael St.Croix and Dylan Wruck lead the way with 49 points each while Henrik Samuelsson and T.J. Foster have both racked up 47 points on the year. Samuelsson leads the team with 22 goals and has 18 points in his last ten games.
The defense has been bolstered by some excellent play from goaltenders Laurent Brossoit and Tristan Jarry. Brossoit is back to form in ‘12-13 with a 17-4-2-3 record, a 2.40 GAA and a 0.913 save % and his Oil Kings record 6th WHL shutout. Jarry is 10-4-0-0 with a 1.80 GAA and a 0.930 save percentage and recently matched an Oil Kings modern day record with three shutouts this season. Edmonton enters tonight's game coming off back to back shutouts from their goaltending tandem.
Edmonton has the WHL's best power play at 27.7% as well as the WHL's best penalty kill at 92.0%. St.Croix leads the WHL with 14 power-play goals while Dylan Wruck leads the league with 24 power-play assists.
Game time in Cranbrook is set for 7:00 p.m. MST. All games this season will be broadcast live on the TEAM 1260 and streamed live at WHL.ca.
LISTEN TO TEAM 1260 / WATCH WHL LIVE
The defending WHL Champions will then make their return to Rexall Place on Friday, January 11th as they play host the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are available at OILKINGS.CA, at the Rexall Place Box Office or at Ticketmaster outlets. For more information on season seats or flex packs, call 780-414-GOAL (4625). The Oil Kings 2012-13 season is presented by JLT, Insurance & Risk Management.
