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WHL Edmonton Oil Kings

Preview: Oil Kings vs. Tri-City Americans 1.11.24

January 11, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Edmonton Oil Kings News Release


EDMONTON OIL KINGS (13-22-1-1) vs. TRI-CITY AMERICANS (16-18-2-1) - January 11, 2024 - Rogers Place - 7:00 PM

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2023-24 Schedule vs. Tri-City Americans

Thursday, Jan 11 @ Edmonton

2022-23 vs. Tri-City: 0-1-0-0 Home: 0-0-0-0 Away: 0-1-0-0 PP: 0/5 (0.0%) PK: 3/6 (50.0%)

All-Time vs. Tri-City: 3-9-2-0 Home: 1-5-1-0 Away: 2-4-1-0 PP: 3/48 (6.3%) PK: 22/60 (63.3%)

Matchup Notes

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

Last season, the Americans defeated the Oil Kings 7-1 at the Toyota Center led by four-point efforts from Jordan Gavin (2G, 2A) and Lukas Dragicevic (0G, 4A) while Tomas Suchanek made 32 saves. Vojtech Port scored the lone goal for the Oil Kings while Kolby Hay stopped 16 of the 17 shots he faced in a relief effort.

Tonight marks the Americans first visit to Rogers Place since November 11, 2019 - 1,522 days ago - a game they won by a 3-0 score thanks to a 48-save shutout from Beck Warm who later that season would be acquired by the Oil Kings.

The Americans have won their last four games against the Oil Kings and are 6-1-0-0 all-time in the City of Edmonton. The Oil Kings last win over the Americans was a 5-4OT victory on November 19, 2016 - 2,609 days ago.

Tonight's game marks Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie's first game against his former team, who originally drafted him with the 14th overall pick at the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft. Lajoie spent four seasons in Tri-City suiting up in 215 career games and registering 93 points (26G, 67A).

Americans defenceman Ethan Peters and forward Mason Finley also take on their former team for the first time tonight. Peters was traded to Tri-City last season ahead of the 2023 WHL Trade Deadline, while Finley was dealt to Tri-City earlier this week and will make his Americans debut against the Oil Kings.

Coming In

The Oil Kings come in after wrapping a 7-game road trip on Sunday afternoon in Calgary that saw them drop a 5-1 decision to the Hitmen.

The Oil Kings finished the trip with a record of 4-2-1-0, dropping their last two games in regulation to the Hitmen and Kelowna Rockets respectively.

In Sunday's loss, the Oil Kings fired a season-high 51 shots at the Calgary net only to have Ethan Buenaventura turn in a 50-save effort. Gracyn Sawchyn scored Edmonton's lone goal of the game, his 10th on the season and fourth in just six games as an Oil King. Hudson Perry made a career-high 41 saves in the losing cause.

The Americans come in having dropped their last two games, 6-2 to Swift Current on Tuesday night and 12-1 to Medicine Hat on Saturday night after opening their 6-game Central Division road trip with a 3-0 win in Lethbridge on Friday night. Tri-City is 1-6-1-0 in their last seven games overall.

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.

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

Oil Kings forward Adam Jecho is 10th in WHL rookie scoring with 24 points (11G, 13A) in just 26 games.

The Oil Kings have killed off 51 of the last 60 penalties they've taken over the past 18 games (85.0%). The Oil Kings PP has gone 23 for its last 96 over the past 23 games (24.0%) and has 25 goals in its last 25 games.

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

TC Notables

Americans forward Max Curran is 9th in WHL rookie scoring with 27 points (4G, 23A) in 35 games, his 23 assists ranks 4th amongst rookies.

Americans goaltender Lukas Matecha ranks 5th in save-percentage (.920) and 7th in goals-against average (2.59) amongst all WHL goalies.

Americans forward Jake Sloan is riding a 3-game point streak (1g-4a-5pts).

Milestone Watch

F Gavin Hodnett is 4 games away from 100 career WHL games.

Lineup Report

D Ethan MacKenzie, upper-body, month-to-month (Games missed: 18).

Streaks

F Adam Jecho is on a 2-game point streak (2g-2a-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 26 games.

D Marc Lajoie has 21 points (9G, 12A) in his last 25 games.

F Skyler Bruce has 24 points (12G, 12A) in his last 22 games.

F Roan Woodward has 13 points (5G, 8A) in his last 19 games.

F Ty Nash has 20 points (10G, 10A) in his last 15 games.

F Marshall Finnie has 12 points (6G, 6A) in his last 15 games.

F Adam Jecho has 14 points (6G, 8A) in his last 14 games.

F Gracyn Sawchyn has 11 points (5G, 6A) in his last 11 games.

D Matthew Gallant has 6 points (0G, 6A) in his last 9 games.

Check out the Edmonton Oil Kings Statistics



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