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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Preview: Oil Kings at Calgary Hitmen

January 7, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


EDMONTON OIL KINGS (13-21-1-1) @ CALGARY HITMEN (14-17-5-1) - JANUARY , 2024 - SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME - 2:00 PM 2023-24 Schedule vs. Calgary Hitmen

Friday, Nov 10 @ Calgary (6-1 CGY)

Saturday, Nov 11 @ Edmonton (10-2 CGY)

Saturday, Nov 25 @ Calgary (7-3 CGY)

Sunday, Jan 7 @ Calgary

Friday, Feb 2 @ Edmonton

Sunday, Feb 4 @ Calgary

Wednesday, Feb 21 @ Edmonton

Wednesday, Feb 28 @ Calgary

Friday, Mar 15 @ Edmonton

2023-24 vs. Calgary: 0-3-0-0 Home: 0-1-0-0 Away: 0-2-0-0 PP: 3/15 (20.0%) PK: 8/15 (46.7%)

2022-23 vs. Calgary: 0-3-5-0 Home: 1-3-0-0 Away: 2-2-0-0 PP: 5/36 (13.9%) PK: 10/34 (70.6%)

Matchup Notes

Tonight marks the fourth of nine meetings this season between the Oil Kings and Hitmen.

The Hitmen took the opening three games of the season series in lopsided fashion by a combined score of 23-6. Skyler Bruce (2G, 0A), Adam Jecho (1G, 1A), Ty Nash (1G, 1A) and Marc Lajoie (0G, 2A) lead Edmonton in scoring in the season series with two point each while Oliver Tulk is the top scoring Hitmen player with nine points (4G, 5A) in three games.

All-time, the Oil Kings and Hitmen have met 107 times in the regular season with the Oil Kings holding a record of 53-45-8-1.

Coming In

The Oil Kings come in off having their six-game (5-0-1-0) point streak snapped on Friday night as they finished up the B.C.-leg of their current seven-game road trip with a 4-3 loss to the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place.

The Oil Kings jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead thanks to Adam Jecho's two goal and three point period, but the Rockets rattled off four unanswered goals starting in the late stages of the second period. Luke Schelter started and closed the comeback for Kelowna scoring twice in the win. The Oil Kings were outshot 43-21 in the game and held to just nine shots over the final 40 minutes of the game.

The Hitmen come in after wrapping up their B.C. division road trip with an emphatic 6-2 win in Kamloops over the Blazers on Friday night ending a four-game losing streak. At 14-17-5-1, they sit ninth in the Eastern Conference just two points behind the Prince Albert Raiders for the final playoff spot.

EOK Notables

Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie sits 12th in defenceman points (28), 2nd in defenceman goals (12) and 1st in defenceman PP goals (8) in the WHL.

With his eight power play goals, Lajoie ranks 2nd all-time amongst Oil Kings defencemen for PP goals in a single season, tied with Conner McDonald (8, 2018-19) and trails only Simon Kubicek (9, 2021-22).

Adam Jecho is 10th in WHL rookie scoring with 23 points (11G, 12A) in just 25 games and has the fifth best shooting percentage by a rookie (22.9%).

Bruce has the 3rd best shooting % in the WHL having collected 12 goals on just 45 shots (26.7%).

The Oil Kings have killed off 47 of the last 56 penalties they've taken over the past 17 games (83.9%). The Oil Kings PP has gone 23 for its last 91 over the past 22 games (25.2%) and has 25 goals in its last 24 games.

The Oil Kings lead the WHL in attendance (5,642 avg.).

CGY Notables

Carter Yakemchuk leads all WHL defencemen in goals with 16 and is 4th in points with 40.

Ben Kindel sits 4th in WHL rookie scoring this season with 31 points (6G, 25A) in 37 games. His 25 assists ranks 2nd amongst rookies.

Sean Tschigerl co-leads the Hitmen in scoring this season with 43 points (19G, 24A) in 35 games and has 5 points (2G, 3A) in his last two games.

Oliver Tulk co-leads the Hitmen in scoring this season with 43 points (22G, 21A) in 35 games and last game had his six-game point streak (3G, 7A) snapped. His 12 goals in 12th most in the entire WHL.

The Hitmen have scored first in a game a league fewest 12 times this season but are 9-2-1-0 when doing so. The Hitmen have played a league most 19 1-goal games this year (6-7-5-1), tied with Kelowna (10-7-2-0) and Red Deer (11-3-1-4).

Milestone Watch

F Gavin Hodnett is 5 games away from 100 career WHL games.

Lineup Report

D Ethan MacKenzie, upper-body, month-to-month (Games missed: 17).

D Reid Larson, lower-body, month-to-month (Games missed: 12).

F Carter Kowalyk, upper-body, day-to-day (Games missed: 4).

Streaks

F Ty Nash is on a 6-game point streak (6g-5a-11pts).

F Gavin Hodnett is on a 3-game assist/point streak (1g-3a-4pts).

F Joe Iginla is on a 2-game point streak (1g-1a-2pts).

Who's Hot

F Gavin Hodnett has 31 points (6G, 25A) in his last 25 games.

D Marc Lajoie has 21 points (9G, 12A) in his last 24 games.

F Skyler Bruce has 24 points (12G, 12A) in his last 21 games.

F Roan Woodward has 13 points (5G, 8A) in his last 18 games.

F Ty Nash has 20 points (10G, 10A) in his last 14 games.

F Marshall Finnie has 12 points (6G, 6A) in his last 14 games.

F Adam Jecho has 13 points (6G, 7A) in his last 13 games.

F Gracyn Sawchyn has 10 points (4G, 6A) in his last 10 games.

D Matthew Gallant has 6 points (0G, 6A) in his last 8 games.

Check out the Edmonton Oil Kings Statistics



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