DUBNetwork Game of the Night: Medicine Hat Tigers (34-16-2-1) @ Edmonton Oil Kings (35-9-6-3) 7:00 PM
The Medicine Hat Tigers head to Edmonton to take on the Oil Kings in a very important divisional battle. Medicine Hat trails Edmonton by eight points as the teams have five weeks left in the regular season.
The Oil Kings have been very good against the Tigers this season, they own a 3-1-0-0 record. Medicine Hat’s lone win came back on November 16th. Edmonton has 16 goals in the four previous games to Medicine Hat’s 10.
Medicine Hat is known for its high powered offense, they lead the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 227 goals in 53 games (4.28 goals per game). Edmonton has some offense as well, they have 195 goals in 53 games (3.68 goals per game).
Both teams are pretty stingy when it comes to allowing goals, Edmonton allows the second least in the Eastern Conference 139 goals over 53 games (2.62 goals per game). Medicine Hat isn’t too far off as they have allowed 160 over 53 games (3.02 goals per game).
Speaking of goals, Medicine Hat has 33 goals from their points leader James Hamblin. That is good for third in the WHL. Ryan Chyzowski rounds out the WHL’s top-20 with 25 goals. Brett Kemp has 24 goals on the season. Edmonton doesn’t have a top-20 goal scorer this season, but Riley Sawchuk is 23rd overall with 23 goals. Not far behind him is rookie sensation Dylan Guenther with 20.
Both teams have defensemen among the top-six goal scorers. Medicine Hat’s Daniel Baker has 13 goals on the season, while Edmonton’s Matthew Robertson has 12.
Edmonton is likely to go with Beck Warm between the pipes as Sebastian Cossa took the loss last night against the Regina Pats. Warm has been outstanding since joining the Oil Kings, he is 6-1-0-1 with a 2.36 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.
Medicine Hat can counter with Mads Sogaard, who’s been solid between the pipes for the Tigers. He is 17-11-1-1 with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.
The Tigers have a potent power play, they are currently third in the WHL at 25.0% success rate. The Oil Kings are no slouch either, they are eighth in the WHL at 22.6% success. The penalty kill is where Edmonton is tops in the WHL, they kill off 87.9% of their penalties. Medicine Hat is middle of the pack in 11th, killing 79.3% of their penalties.
You can catch all the action tonight on WHL Live, or you can listen in to Bob Ridley of Medicine Hat Tigers’ fame on CHAT 94.5 FM. Conversely, you can tune into Andrew Peard on TSN 1260.
In other WHL action:
Brandon Wheat Kings (29-19-3-2) @ Prince Albert Raiders (29-16-5-4)
Just the third meeting between the division rivals Brandon and Prince Albert. Each team has a regulation win. Brandon trails Prince Albert by just four points with a game in hand. They will play three more games before the season is over, each game is very important in their race to the East Division title.
Saskatoon Blades (27-22-2-3) @ Swift Current Broncos (10-38-1-3)
The Blades will be looking to get back on the winning track against the Broncos. Saskatoon has lost two in a row and are just 4-4-1-1 in their last 10 games. Swift Current has lost seven in a row. Saskatoon has won both previous meetings, and the teams will close out their season series next Saturday in Saskatoon.
Winnipeg ICE (32-20-1-0) @ Lethbridge Hurricanes(34-12-2-5)
These two teams will play for the fourth and final time tonight. Lethbridge has a 2-0-0-1 record against Winnipeg. They have closed the gap on the Central Division leaders to just four points. Lethbridge has won five straight games. Winnipeg is two points back of the Prince Albert Raiders with a game in hand, they are 5-5-0-0 in their last 10 games.
Vancouver Giants (27-20-3-2) @ Seattle Thunderbirds (21-25-3-3)
The Giants are back. The team has won eight games in a row, and are now inching their way towards second place in the BC Division. The Thunderbirds are trying to stave off the Prince George Cougars who are hunting them for the final Western Conference playoffs spot. This is the first of four meetings between the clubs this season.
Victoria Royals (29-19-4-1) @ Kamloops Blazers (33-16-3-1)
Seven points separate the two clubs as they head towards playoff seeding. Victoria has had Kamloops’ number of late, winning the last two contests. They are 4-2-0-0 against the Blazers this season. The two teams meet again on Monday for the final time this season.
Calgary Hitmen (29-18-4-1) @ Prince George Cougars (16-28-3-4)
The Cougars are nine points back of the Seattle Thunderbirds and need to start tacking on wins if they have any hopes of making the playoffs in 2019-2020. They are 5-5-0-0 in their last 10. Calgary is eight points back of third place in the Central Division and solidly in the first wild card spot, they lead Regina by 20 points.
Portland Winterhawks (38-7-3-4) @ Everett Silvertips (35-12-3-1)
The top two teams in the US Division will see the first matchup of two teams that have clinched a playoff spot this season. Portland is 3-1-0-0 against Everett this season, Everett is 1-2-1-0. There are nine points separating the two teams and Everett has a game in hand.
Red Deer Rebels (18-31-2-3) @ Kelowna Rockets (24-25-1-2)
The Rebels have lost all three games on their BC Division road swing. The best two chances for wins come tonight and Monday afternoon. Kelowna has had a rough go over their last 10 games (3-7-0-0) but won their last contest. They will look to create more separation from the Seattle Thunderbirds and climb back into the BC Division race.
Spokane Chiefs (31-18-4-1) @ Tri-City Americans (16-31-4-1)
The two teams meet for the ninth time this season. Spokane has the decided edge in the season series with a 6-1-1-0 record. Two of the Americans 16 wins have come against the Chiefs. Spokane is coming off a loss to the division-leading Winterhawks, Tri-City defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors last night.
