DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: Wheat Kings @ Oil Kings 7 PM MST
On the day the ownership of the Kootenay Ice announced they are officially relocating to Manitoba, we feature the only team based out of Manitoba this season. The Brandon Wheat Kings are in Alberta’s Provincial Capital tonight to face off against the Edmonton Oil Kings in their third meeting of the season.
The Brandon Wheat Kings (20-19-3-3) are coming off a win earned Saturday against the Regina Pats, putting them into a four game stretch where they’ve won three of those four games. Tonight will be a harder test for the Wheaties though, facing off against an Edmonton team that is perched in first place in the Central Division. There’s no doubt the Wheat Kings are coming down on critical times in the schedule, as they sit four points back for the last wild card spot in the east.
The Edmonton Oil Kings (26-15-4-4) are barely clinging onto first place in the Central DIvision as their rival Red Deer Rebels, and the notorious Medicine Hat Tigers are creeping very close to that first place title. The Oil Kings are 6-3-0-1 in their last ten, seemingly identical to the Rebels, but the Tigers boast a 7-2-0-1 record meaning that Edmonton needs to keep putting up points or else their potential division banner could easily slip away. Another thing to keep in mind, is that the Rebels have three games in hand on the first place Oil Kings, and the Tigers also have one game in hand on Edmonton.
Who to watch:
- Luka Burzan (BDN) 26G, 26A- Burzan has already beat his points total from last season, a combined 40 points between Brandon and Moose Jaw, watch for him offensively with Stelio Mattheos tonight.
- Conner McDonald (EDM) 12G, 17A -A defenseman with an offensively niche some might say, McDonald has four points in his last three games, also donning first star honours against Prince George in Edmonton’s last game.
Expected Goaltenders:
- Ethan Kruger (BDN) 3.464 GAA, .893 SV%- Poised with being a temporary starter while his teammates ail from injuries, Kruger posted a .939 SV% last game vs. Regina.
- Dylan Myskiw (EDM) 2.806 GAA, .905 SV%- Although he got the last game off, Myskiw boasts an 18-10 record in the crease this season
The Other Games:
Calgary Hitmen (23-19-3-1) @ Regina Pats (13-33-1-2)
- Calgary has won back to back games coming into this one, Regina won the one and only meeting of the season between these two teams back on October 14th in overtime.
