WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Preview: Oil Kings vs. Moose Jaw Warriors

Published on December 3, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


EDMONTON OIL KINGS (8-16-0-1) vs. MOOSE JAW WARRIORS (16-10-0-1) - December 3, 2023 - Rogers Place - 4:00 PM

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2023-24 Schedule vs. Moose Jaw Warriors

Friday, Nov 3 @ Edmonton (7-5 EDM)

Saturday, Nov 18 @ Moose Jaw (7-3 MJ)

Sunday, Dec 3 @ Edmonton

Tuesday, Feb 6 @ Moose Jaw

2023-24 vs. Moose Jaw: 1-1-0-0 Home: 1-0-0-0 Away: 0-1-0-0 PP: 2/5 (40.0%) PK: 2/7 (71.4%)

2022-23 vs. Moose Jaw: 1-3-0-0 Home: 1-1-0-0 Away: 0-2-0-0 PP: 2/16 (12.5%) PK: 5/15 (66.7%)

Matchup Notes

Tonight marks the third of four meetings between these two Clubs this season. The teams split the first two encounters with each securing a win on home ice. The two teams have combined for 22 goals in the previous two meetings.

The Oil Kings have been led offensively in the season series by Gavin Hodnett (1G, 4A), Skyler Bruce (3G, 1A) and Marc Lajoie (2G, 1A). Bruce notched his first career hat-trick against the Warriors back on November 3. Meanwhile, Jagger Firkus (2G, 3A) has been the top producer for the Warriors, along with rookie forward Pavel McKenzie (3G, 1A).

All-time, these two Clubs have met 62 times in the regular season with the Oil Kings holding a record of 29-22-8-3 and a record of 17-9-4-1 on home ice.

Coming In

The Oil Kings come in off a thrilling 5-3 win on Friday night in their 16th annual Teddy Bear Toss game against the Everett Silvertips. The Oil Kings have now won two of their last three games.

In the win, it was the second straight home ice win for the Oil Kings and their second straight third period come-from-behind win on home ice as they used a three-goal third period to erase a 3-2 deficit after 40 minutes of play.

Landon Hanson opened the scoring for the Oil Kings in the first period becoming the 16th different Oil King to register their Teddy Bear Toss goal. Marshall Finnie notched his first goal in nine games during the second period to kickstart a big night for himself as he finished with a goal and two assists for his first career three-point game.

In the third period, the Oil Kings used a power play goal from Ty Nash to tie the game, and then with just over a minute left in regulation, another from Marc Lajoie to grab their first lead of the game. Lajoie also had the late go-ahead goal last Friday in the Oil Kings 4-2 comeback win over the Regina Pats. Nash has now registered a goal and an assist in three straight games. The comeback was punctuated by an empty-net goal from Roan Woodward as he skated against his former team for the first time since being acquired by the Oil Kings back on October 10. Kolby Hay made 36 saves for his seventh win of the season, while Gavin Hodnett chipped in with a pair of assists.

The Oil Kings power play went 2-for-3 on the night and now has a goal in five straight games (7/16 - 43.8%) and in 12 of their last 13 games (14/60 - 23.3%). The penalty kill was once again razor sharp killing off all four Everett power plays, and now has killed 24 of the last 26 times the Oil Kings have been shorthanded.

Notables: Marc Lajoie now sits 11th in defenceman points (20), second in defenceman goals (9) and first in defenceman PP goals (6) in the WHL.

The Oil Kings lead the WHL in attendance (5,501 avg.).

The Warriors come in riding a three-game win streak after a 5-2 win in Red Deer on Friday night. They have outscored their opponents 15-5 in that span. They sit six points back of the Saskatoon Blades for top spot in the East Division.

Notables: Denton Mateychuk comes in riding a 20-game point streak (6G, 24A) for the Warriors, which has set a franchise record for the Club for the longest point streak by a defenceman.

After a slow start to his season, Atley Calvert, who had 40 goals a season ago, has begun to heat up as he has points in seven straight games (7G, 5A) and 13 of his last 14 (10G, 11A).

Jagger Firkus continues lead the CHL in scoring, tied with Riley Heidt (Prince George Cougars) and Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers), with 48 points (24G, 24A). *As of Friday night.

Milestone Watch

D Carter Kowalyk is 2 games away from 100 career games.

G Kolby Hay is 1 win away from passing Dylan Myskiw and Torrie Jung for 5th most wins in franchise history.

Lineup Report

D Carter Kowalyk, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 24).

D Rhys Pederson, lower-body, month-to-month (Games missed: 10).

F Rilen Kovacevic, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 7).

D Ethan MacKenzie, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 6).

F Adam Jecho, lower-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 6).

D Reid Larson, lower-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 1).

F Skyler Bruce, lower-body, TBD (Games missed: 1).

D Parker Alcos, upper-body, day-to-day (Games missed: 1).

Streaks

D Marc Lajoie is on an 8-game point streak (4g-6a-10pts).

F Skyler Bruce is on a 4-game point streak (3g-1a-4pts) and a 3-game goal streak (3G).

F Ty Nash is on a 3-game goal/assist/point streak (3g-3a-6pts).

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

Who's Hot

F Rilen Kovacevic has 10 goals in his last 15 games.

F Skyler Bruce has 15 points (10G, 5A) in his last 15 games.

F Gavin Hodnett has 18 points (3G, 15A) in his last 14 games.

D Marc Lajoie has 13 points (6G, 7A) in his last 13 games.

F Adam Jecho has 8 points (3G, 5A) in his last 7 games.

F John Szabo has 5 points (2G, 3A) in his last 7 games.

F Roan Woodward has 5 points (2G, 3A) in his last 7 games.

D Vojtech Port has 5 points (0G, 5A) in his last 4 games.

F Marshall Finnie has 4 points (1G, 3A) in his last 3 games.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 3, 2023


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