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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Preview: Oil Kings at Kelowna Rockets

January 5, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


EDMONTON OIL KINGS (13-20-1-1) @ KELOWNA ROCKETS (17-16-2-0) - JANUARY 5, 2024 - PROSPERA PLACE - 8:00 PM

2023-24 Schedule vs. Kelowna Rockets

Friday, Jan 5 @ Kelowna

2022-23 vs. Kelowna: 0-1-0-0 Home: 0-1-0-0 Away: 0-0-0-0 PP: 0/5 (0.0%) PK: 2/5 (60.0%)

All-Time vs. Kelowna: 8-15-0-4 Home: 4-8-0-1 Away: 4-8-0-3 PP: 18/126 (14.3%) PK: 24/129 (81.4%)

Matchup Notes

Tonight marks the first and only meeting of the season between the Oil Kings and Rockets.

Last season, the Rockets blanked the Oil Kings at Rogers Place on February 24, 2023 by a 4-0 score. The Rockets goals were supplied by Dylan Wightman(2), former Oil King Carson Golder and Trae Johnson. Talyn Boyko stopped all 27 shots he faced in the Rockets cage while Logan Cunningham turned away 36 of the 40 shots sent his direction.

The Oil Kings last visit to Prospera Place was 1,501 days ago on November 26, 2019 a game in which they secured a 1-0 win via the shootout. Sebastian Cossa, 21 saves, and Roman Basran, 27 saves, were the two goalies of record to pick up the rare double shutout. Dylan Guenther scored the lone goal in the shootout. The Oil Kings and Rockets have met 27 times total in the regular season with eight of those games being decided in the shootout with both teams having four wins apiece in the skills competition.

Coming In

The Oil Kings come in riding a six-game point streak (5-0-1-0) and have back-to-back wins following a 3-1 win Wednesday night in Kamloops.

Landon Hanson opened the scoring for Edmonton with a beautiful coast-to-coast rush late in the first period while Gracyn Sawchyn, who now has at least a point in all four games as an Oil King, scored a pair of goals setup by Ty Nash. Kolby Hay, playing in his 100th career WHL game and first in his virtual hometown of Kamloops, came within 90 seconds of picking up a shutout but still finished the night as the game's first start after stopping 36 of 37 shots for his fifth consecutive victory in the Edmonton crease.

The Rockets come in having won two straight games and four of their last five after a wild 7-6 win over the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday. Since November 21, 2023 the Rockets hold a record of 10-4-0-0. Their last five games have all been decided by two goals or less.

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 ranks 10th in WHL rookie scoring with 20 points (9G, 11A) in just 22 games.

Skyler Bruce has the 3rd best shooting % in the WHL having collected 11 goals on just 42 shots (26.2%).

The Oil Kings have killed off 44 of the last 52 penalties they've taken over the past 16 games (84.6%). The Oil Kings PP has gone 22 for its last 88 over the past 21 games (25.0%) and has 24 goals in its last 23 games.

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

KEL Notables

Andrew Cristall sits 4th in WHL scoring with 60 points (21G, 39A) in 29 games. His 39 assists ranks 5th amongst all WHL skaters. He has recorded at least a point in 27 of the 29 games he has played this season and is currently riding a 16-game point streak (11G, 21A), the longest active point streak in the league.

Tij Iginla sits 17th in WHL scoring with 47 points (26G, 21A) in 35 games. His 26 goals ranks 5th amongst all WHL skaters. He is currently riding a 9-game point streak (7G, 10A).

Gabriel Szturc sits 20th in WHL scoring with 45 points (18G, 27A) in 29 games and is riding a 4-game goal streak (5G).

Hiroki Gojsic sits 14th in WHL rookie scoring with 19 points (8G, 11A) in 35 games.

Milestone Watch

F Marshall Finnie is 1 game away from 100 career WHL games.

F Gavin Hodnett is 7 games away from 100 career WHL games.

Lineup Report

D Ethan MacKenzie, upper-body, month-to-month (Games missed: 16).

D Reid Larson, lower-body, month-to-month (Games missed: 11).

F Carter Kowalyk, upper-body, day-to-day (Games missed: 3).

Streaks

F Ty Nash is on a 5-game point streak (6g-4a-10pts).

G Kolby Hay is on a 5-game winning streak.

F Gracyn Sawchyn is on a 4-game point streak (3g-2a-5pts).

F Gavin Hodnett is on a 2-game assist/point streak (1g-2a-3pts).

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

Who's Hot

F Gavin Hodnett has 30 points (6G, 24A) in his last 24 games.

D Marc Lajoie has 21 points (9G, 12A) in his last 23 games.

F Skyler Bruce has 22 points (11G, 11A) in his last 20 games.

F Roan Woodward has 13 points (5G, 8A) in his last 17 games.

F Ty Nash has 19 points (10G, 9A) in his last 13 games.

F Marshall Finnie has 12 points (6G, 6A) in his last 13 games.

F Adam Jecho has 10 points (4G, 6A) in his last 12 games.

F Gracyn Sawchyn has 10 points (4G, 6A) in his last 9 games.

D Matthew Gallant has 6 points (0G, 6A) in his last 7 games.

Check out the Edmonton Oil Kings Statistics



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