DUBNetwork Game of the Night: Winnipeg ICE (34-21-1-0) @ Edmonton Oil Kings (39-10-6-3) 11:00 AM
Today’s game is for the kids. Literally.
The game is titled Hockey Hooky and it has an earlier start time than usual. The Edmonton Oil Kings invite schools from all over Central and Nothern Alberta to join the team at Rogers Place. The team incorporates a learning workbook for the students to follow along with throughout the game. The goal is to keep learning fun while introducing a lot of kids to the game of hockey, specifically the WHL.
Onto the game notes.
The Edmonton Oil Kings are 3-0-0-0 against Winnipeg this season and have dominated the scoresheet. They have twice shut them out and have outscored them 16-1 in the process. Just three of those goals were scored with the man-advantage.
Winnipeg last played on the 19th of February, at home, against Edmonton. They lost that game and will look to break that habit before it becomes a streak. Edmonton won their last game, against the Regina Pats on Saturday.
Edmonton leads the Central Division by 10 points over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Oil Kings have 10 games left to play. Winnipeg is four points back of the East Division-leading Prince Albert Raiders. They have 12 games left to play this season.
With 30 games under his belt in 2019-2020, Sebastian Cossa is a good bet to start between the pipes for the Oil Kings. He is 20-4-2-1 with a 2.08 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. Should the Oil Kings decide to go the other way, Beck Warm is an excellent option as well.
Liam Hughes has been a treat for the ICE since he joined the team, posting an 18-8-0-0 record over 26 contests. His goals-against average is 2.55 and he has a .914 save percentage.
With overage players heading to the end of their junior hockey careers, Winnipeg and Edmonton both have offensive-minded 20-year-olds leading the charge. For Edmonton it is Riley Sawchuk, he has 23 goals and 47 assists, his most productive season by a long shot. Isaac Johnson has been a revelation in Winnipeg, following a tough season last year with Tri-City. He has potted 23 goals and added 43 assists for the ICE this season.
You can’t talk about Winnipeg’s defense without talking about Dawson Barteaux and rookie Carson Lambos. Barteaux has put up point-per-game type numbers since joining the ICE at the trade deadline. He’s up to 10 goals and 30 assists on the year. Lambos leads all eligible rookie defensemen with seven goals and 22 assists on the season.
Edmonton’s defense is led by New York Rangers prospect Matthew Robertson. He’s already surpassed last season’s totals and continues to contribute on both ends of the ice for the Oil Kings. He has 13 goals and 28 assists. Ethan Cap has at least 20 points for the second straight season, this year he has four goals and 17 assists.
Ethan McIndoe is riding a three-game points streak, he has two goals and three assists. Riley Sawchuk has a three-game point streak as well, he has three assists.
The two teams are neck-and-neck when it comes to the man-advantage. Edmonton has a 22.9% success rate, good for seventh in the WHL, Winnipeg is at 22.8% which is good for ninth. Where the teams really see a difference is on the penalty kill. Edmonton is ranked first overall, killing off 87.4% of their penalties. Winnipeg is 20th with a 75.6% success rate.
You can catch the action on WHL Live or you can tune into Edmonton play-by-play man Andrew Peard on TSN 1260. Mitch Peacock and the Winnipeg ICE call can be heard on 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.
WHL Unfiltered had a podcast last night with Mitch Peacock and that can be heard HERE.
In other WHL Action:
Kelowna Rockets (25-26-2-3) @ Prince George Cougars (17-31-3-4) 7:00 PM
Rockets have generally owned the Cougars this season they are 5-1-0-0 with one win requiring overtime. With a new head coach behind the bench, the Rockets have begun to get back on track, they have points in three straight and hold a two-point edge on the Seattle Thunderbirds for the first wild card spot. They also have two games in hand. Prince George is chasing Seattle, with a 12-point deficit to try to make up with 13 games left to play
