Preview: Oil Kings at Red Deer Rebels 3.23.24
March 23, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release
EDMONTON OIL KINGS (25-37-3-1) vs. RED DEER REBELS (33-24-3-6) -
MARCH 23, 2024 - PEAVEY MART CENTRIUM - 7:00 PM
2023-24 Schedule vs. Red Deer
Friday, Sept 22 @ Red Deer (4-2 EDM)
Saturday, Sept 23 @ Edmonton (4-3 RD)
Sunday, Oct 15 @ Edmonton (5-2 RD)
Tuesday, Oct 17 @ Edmonton (4-0 RD)
Saturday, Jan 13 @ Red Deer (4-1 RD)
Friday, Jan 26 @ Red Deer (6-3 RD)
Friday, Feb 16 @ Red Deer (3-1 EDM)
Saturday, Feb 17 @ Edm (3-1 EDM)
Saturday, Mar 23 @ Red Deer
Sunday, Mar 24 @ Edmonton
Matchup Notes
Tonight marks the 9th of 10 meetings in the regular season between the 2 clubs. Red Deer has won 5 of the 8 previous meetings.
Marc Lajoie leads all Oil Kings in scoring during the season series with five points (1G, 4A), while Kai Uchacz (7G, 4A) leads the way for the Rebels in the head to head with eleven points.
All-time, the Oil Kings and Rebels have met 117 times in the regular season with the Oil Kings holding a record of 57-46-7-7.
Coming In
The Oil Kings and Rebels each conclude their Western Hockey League regular seasons this weekend in this home-and-home battle, where each game has no impact positionally in the Eastern Conference standings. If the Oil Kings win both contests, they can tie the Rebels in the season series after being swept 9-0 by the Rebels for the first time in franchise history during the 22/23 season.
The Oil Kings last played on Sunday evening, a 5-4 defeat on home ice to the Swift Current Broncos which snapped their 4 game winning streak on home ice. Gavin Hodnett scored twice, Ty Nash tallied on a penalty shot and Marc Lajoie lamped his 24th of the year and 13th powerplay marker.
Edmonton is 2-1-1 on the road so far in March.
For the Rebels, their playoff fate has been determined. They'll travel to Medicine Hat as the #5 seed to take on the Tigers in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal on Friday March 29th.
EOK Notables
 Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie moved into a 2nd place tie with Aaron Irving (13) for the most career power play goals by an Oil Kings defenceman in franchise history on Sunday. He now trails Conner McDonald (14) for the all-time record.
 Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie picked up his 50th career WHL goal on Sunday.
 Oil Kings Forward Gavin Hodnett hit the 20 goal marker for the first time in his career on Sunday.
 Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie sits 8th in defenceman points (55), 2nd in defenceman goals (24), 1st in defenceman PP goals (13) and is 6th in defenceman PP points (30) in the WHL. His 13 power play goals rank tied for 6th overall in the entire WHL amongst all skaters.
 The Oil Kings lead the WHL in attendance (7,091 avg.).
RDR Notables
 Rebels Forward Talon Brigley is 2nd on the team in goals with 20, and has done so without a single multi-goal game in the 2023/24 season.
 Rebels Forward Kai Uchacz is 2nd overall in the Western Hockey League in % of face-offs won at 61.2 %, for players who've taken at least 500 draws.
 Rebels Forward Kai Uchacz is tied for 6th in the Western Hockey League with 13 powerplay goals.
 Red Deer Goalie Chase Wutzke is 3rd in the Western Hockey League as a rookie in wins (19), goals against average (2.69) and 2nd in save percentage amongst all rookie goalies (.908).
Milestone Watch
 F Ty Nash is 6 assists away from 100 career WHL assists.
 D Marc Lajoie is 2 assists away from 100 career WHL assists.
 G Kolby Hay is 7 wins away from 50 career WHL wins.
 F Skyler Bruce is 3 goals away from 50 career WHL goals.
Lineup Report
 F Presley Kerner, lower-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 15)
Streaks
 F Gracyn Sawchyn is on a 5-game point streak (3g-4a-6pts).
 F Ty Nash is on a 3-game point streak (2g-1a-3pts).
 F Adam Jecho is on a 3-game point streak (2g-4a-6pts).
 D Marc Lajoie is on a 3-game point streak (4g-3a-7pts).
Who's Hot
 D Marc Lajoie has 11 points (5G, 6A) in his last 8 games.
 F Ty Nash has 27 points (7G, 20A) in his last 26 games.
 F Gracyn Sawchyn has 26 points (7G, 19A) in his last 24 games.
 F Gavin Hodnett has 20 points (8G, 12A) in his last 18 games.
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Western Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2024
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- Preview: Warriors Host Pats in Regular Season Finale Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
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