Feature Game of the Night: Calgary Hitmen @ Edmonton Oil Kings 4PM MST
With a couple of games in hand heading into the final weekend before the holiday break, the Calgary Hitmen (15-14-2-1) look to close the gap on their divisional rivals, the Edmonton Oil Kings (16-12-4-2).
Both teams will also play Sunday to close out the weekend, but neither team wants to look past today’s opponent on their road to the WHL playoffs. Most teams will have played right around half of their regular season games and the Oil Kings and Hitmen are no different. Just five points separate the teams that are separated by nearly 300km.
The two teams are headed in different directions recently, Edmonton had come on strong with an eight game winning streak but have since gone 3-6-3-1 trailing the division leading Red Deer Rebels by four points. They can close the gap with back-to-back wins this weekend.
The Hitmen on the other hand have won five games in a row and seven of their last 10 overall. Calgary is 7-8-0-1 on the road this season. This is their first visit to Rogers place this season and third meeting overall. Each team has won a game in Calgary, the Hitmen needed overtime in their win. Edmonton is 8-5-0-0 at home so far this season.
The Edmonton Oil Kings have added some punch to their lineup with the recent addition of Andrew Fyten. The former Hitmen forward will make his debut with the Oil Kings this afternoon, following a deal with the Swift Current Boncos. This should help take pressure off of the WHL’s leading scorer (tied) Trey Fix-Wolansky. He leads the way with 64 points on 21 goals and 43 assists. The next scorer, Quinn Benjafield, has just 33 points.
The Hitmen counter with three 30+ point scorers in Mark Kastelic, Jake Kryski and James Malm. Defensman Egor Zamula isn’t far behind with 27 points, 10 of which have come over his last five games (5g, 5a).
Leading scorers:
Trey Fix-Wolansky EDM 21 goals 43 assists – 64 points , 22 power play points
Mark Kastelic CGY 22 goals 14 assists – 36 points, 14 power play points
Figler’s Fast Fasts:
Power play: Edmonton: 25.3% (6th) Calgary: 25.7% (5th)
Penalty Kill: Edmonton: 78.5% (9th) Calgary: 78.7% (8th)
Potential Net Front Presence:
Edmonton: Dylan Myskiw 12-7-2-1 3.05 GAA .900 sv% Two wins in his last six starts
Calgary: Jack McNaughton 9-7-0-1 3.10 GAA .891 sv% Has won his last five starts
Other Super Saturday Games:
Regina Pats (9-23-0-1) vs Moose Jaw Warriors (16-8-4-1)
The Warriors will want to avenge the 2-1 loss to the Pats just last night. The Warriors own the 3rd best power play in the WHL at 27.7%, Regina’s penalty kill is 20th at 71.7%
Swift Current (6-24-1-1) vs. Prince Albert Raiders (30-2-0-1)
Prince Albert scored two short handed markers one power play goal and an empty net goal in a penalty filled game last night between these two teams. There were 100 penalty minutes dished out in the game that saw five fights. It is also Teddy Bear toss night in Prince Albert.
Saskatoon Blades (21-10-3-0) vs. Brandon Wheat Kings (14-10-3-3)
Saskatoon squeezed out a win with five seconds remaining in the game last night in Saskatoon, the teams slide over to Brandon for the second half of the home and home series. Gary Haden was the hero in the game.
Kamloops Blazers (12-15-2-1) vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes (16-9-4-2)
The Blazers make their only visit to Lethbridge, winless in their last five. The Hurricanes can close the gap on division leading Red Deer to just 2 points with a win at home where they are 9-4-0-2.
Kelowna Rockets (15-17-2-0) vs. Medicine Hat Tigers (17-14-1-2)
Fourth stop on a four game road trip through Alberta before the holiday break for the Rockets, they are 1-2 thus far. Medicine Hat has won each of their last four games.
Portland Winterhawks (19-11-0-2) vs. Tri-City Americans (15-12-1-1)
Portland enters the game with 133 goals for, second most in the entire WHL. They face off with a struggling Tri-City team that has just three wins in their last 10 games.
Vancouver Giants (21-7-2-0) vs. Victoria Royals (15-13-1-0)
The WHL’s second stingiest team (Giants) with just 68 goals against, will take on the up and down Royals, who have won just three of their last 10 games. The Royals have scored 14 goals in their last three games, allowing 12 in the same stretch.
Seattle Thunderbirds (11-15-3-0) vs. Everett Silvertips (26-7-1-1)
It’s first versus worst as the Thunderbirds head up the highway to Everett. 29 points separate these teams as reigning WHL goalie of the week Dustin Wolf continues to propel the team behind his 1.84 goals against average. Seattle counters with two 31 point scorers in Zack Andrusiak and Nolan Volcan.
