DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: Medicine Hat Tigers @Edmonton Oil Kings
The only series that did not get going in Friday night in the WHL starts at Rogers Place on Saturday. Four of the six games in the season series were each decided by one goal – with one of those being decided in a shootout. Another was only a two-goal win because of an empty-net goal with nine seconds left.
Safe to say the games in this series should be tight. Edmonton did win five of those games though and thus went 5-0-0-1 against Medicine Hat. Vince Loschiavo and Brett Kemp each had an overtime winner for Edmonton against the Tigers and goalie Dylan Myskiw had a shutout and got all five wins in net.
Mads Sogaard twice posted save percentages above 0.932 for the Tigers and should get the net opposite Myskiw.
Kemp and 2001-born forward Josh Williams were traded for each other at the deadline. Kemp had 21 points in 24 games with the Tigers and Williams tallied 12 in 25 games with the Oil Kings.
Trey Fix-Wolansky had two goals and four assists in six games with against the Tigers, which is well below his season average of 1.57 points-per-game. He will be looking to break through against Medicine Hat.
The Oil Kings have held Medicine Hat’s leading scorer James Hamblin in check even more this season. He had just three of his 77 points in the six games he played against his hometown of Edmonton.
Hamblin, who missed out on the playoffs last season because of a season-ending injury has got to be ecstatic at getting another chance with this one coming in the city he’s from. 15-year-old first round pick Cole Sillinger was called up and could crack the roster for Medicine Hat.
Other series:
Red Deer Rebels @ Prince Albert Raiders (0-1) 7 PM MDT
- The Raiders and Ian Scott shut down the Rebels last night. Brandon Hagel and the Rebels will try and jump start their offense after only getting 21 shots on Scott in Game 1. 16-year-old Ozzy Wiesblatt continues to play well on the top line with Cole Fonstad and Noah Gregor.
Calgary Hitmen @ Lethbridge Hurricanes (0-1) 7 PM MDT
- The Hurricanes pulled out Game 1 thanks to Calen Addison‘s overtime heroics. The disciplined Hurricanes took just one penalty in Game 1, not allowing Mark Kastelic and his WHL-leading 24 regular season power-play goals many chances.
Moose Jaw Warriors @ Saskatoon Blades (0-1) 7PM MDT
- Head coach Tim Hunter is switching things up and going with Adam Evanoff instead of Game 1 starter Brodan Salmond. The overtime goal Salmond gave up to Chase Wouters was definitely one that Salmond will want back. Evanoff had a solid year and he gives the Warriors a stout number two goalie who will be excited to get his shot at the WHL playoffs.
Portland Winterhawks @ Spokane Chiefs (0-1) 7:05 PM PDT
- Portland defenseman John Ludvig was suspended two games for his high hit on Ethan McIndoe in the first period of Game 1. Portland will be in tough to contain Jaret Andeson-Dolan, Ty Smith and the Chiefs without their best defensive defenseman and their number one center in Cody Glass.
Kamloops Blazers @ Victoria Royals (0-1) 7:05 PM PDT
- Kamloops forward Kobe Mohr got a two-game suspension for his “actions” in Game 1. We shall see if this series starts to get a little dirtier as we go. Kamloops will be trying to get Connor Zary back on the ice and try to bounce back from their 4-0 loss.
Seattle Thunderbirds @ Vancouver Giants (0-1) 7:30 PM PDT
- Seattle’s number one defenseman Jake Lee was handed a “TBD” suspension for his late hit on Vancouver’s Justin Sourdif. They will need to stay out of the box in Game 2 and try to make life more difficult for Giants goalie Trent Miner to have a chance Saturday.
Tri-City Americans @ Everett Silvertips (0-1) 7:35 PM PDT
- Everett controlled a majority of play in the first two periods and Tri-City leaned heavily on Beck Warm. The Americans will try to turn the tables and give their goalie some goal support on the road. Otherwise they will head back to Kennewick in a deep hole.
