Crown Chronicles: Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back
Despite playing just two games this past weekend, the Oil Kings had a very busy week.
They secured a couple matinee wins after defeating the Red Deer Rebels at home on Saturday before ending their season-series with the Calgary Hitmen at the Saddledome with a convincing triumph on Sunday.
With their win on Saturday, the Oil Kings clinched a fourth consecutive Central Division title becoming the first team in over a decade to run it back four times (Vancouver Giants, 2005-10). In addition, the Oil Kings found out that their first-round playoff opponent will be the Lethbridge Hurricanes after the ‘Canes locked up the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. Game one of the series goes Thursday, April 21 (7:00 PM) at Rogers Place.
Sitting at 48-14-3-1 on the season, the Oil Kings are locked into the 2nd playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
Highlight of the Week
Justin Sourdif shows off his incredible skill set as he carves his way through the Red Deer defence to score his 25th goal of the season.
Weekly Review
Oil Kings 6 vs Red Deer Rebels 4 (Saturday)
The Oil Kings hosted their first annual Pride Day game that saw just under 10,000 fans in attendance on Saturday to support the cause. The game also featured the return of Oil Kings captain Jake Neighbours after he’d sat out the last six weeks due to an upper-body injury. Justin Sourdif and Dylan Guenther paced the offence with two goals and two assists each, while former Rebel Jaxsen Wiebe notched a pair of assists. Tyler Horstmann registered his career-high third goal of the season, while Carter Souch added a power play marker.
Oil Kings 4 @ Calgary Hitmen 1 (Sunday)
After the Hitmen got an early goal from Zac Funk, it was all Oil Kings after that as they would score four unanswered goals on their way to their 48th win of the season and 100th point. The Oil Kings top line of Jake Neighbours, Dylan Guenther and Justin Sourdif combined for three goals and three assists in the win. Guenther’s goal was his 45th of the season, tying Michael St. Croix’s Oil Kings franchise record for goals in a single-season. Jaxsen Wiebe extended his personal point streak to three games with a goal midway through the second period. Between the pipes, Sebastian Cossa made 28 saves for his 70th career win.
Three Stars of the Week
3. #43 Jaxsen Wiebe – The Moose Jaw, SK product had a goal and two assists this weekend and now finds himself riding a three-game point streak (2G, 2A). Through 49 games this year, he has set new career highs in goals (10), assists (25), points (35), penalty minutes (93) and plus/minus (+16).
2. #42 Justin Sourdif – On Saturday against the Red Deer Rebels, the Florida Panthers prospect notched his fifth career four-point game with two goals and two assists, then followed up with a goal and an assist against the Calgary Hitmen the next day. He is currently riding a four-game goal and point streak (5G, 4A). He has registered at least a point in 17 of his last 18 games (15G, 17A). On Saturday, he picked up his 200th career WHL point after scoring the games opening goal. With his 26th goal of the season on Sunday, he matched his career high for goals set during the 2019-20 season. His 1.42 points per-game this season ranks 8th in the entire WHL.
1. #11 Dylan Guenther – It was a six-point weekend for the Arizona Coyotes first-rounder after he picked up three goals and three assists. Currently riding a four-game point streak (4G, 5A), the local product now sits 4th in the WHL goal scoring race with 45 on the campaign and is 6th in points with 90. He has scored 29 goals over his last 32 games.
Quick Hits
- The Oil Kings have now won the Central Division title seven times in franchise history (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22).
- The Oil Kings have scored 289 goals this season, which currently ranks third all-time in franchise history (2011-12, 310 GF – 2013-14, 290 GF).
- The Oil Kings have set a new franchise record for shorthanded goals in a season with 15, surpassing the previous mark of 14 set during the 2013-14 season.
- Dylan Guenther is now tied with Lane Bauer for 7th on the Oil Kings all-time goals list with 86, and surpassed Bauer for 8th on the Oil Kings all-time points list with 177.
- Carter Souch sits 7th on the Oil Kings all-time points list with 189.
- Jake Neighbours and Josh Williams are now tied for 10th on the Oil Kings all-time points list with 175 each.
- When the Oil Kings and Lethbridge Hurricanes drop the puck on their first-round series, it will be the first time in history the two clubs will have faced-off in the WHL post-season. For the full first-round schedule, click here.
Injury Report
D Kaiden Guhle, lower-body, day-to-day (Last game: March 12, 8 games missed)
D Graydon Gotaas, lower-body, week-to-week (Last game: March 18, 6 games missed)
Next Up
The Oil Kings wrap up their regular season with a pair of road games this weekend as they take on the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday and the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday, puck drop for both games is set for 7:00 PM.
The Oil Kings are 6-0-0-1 against the Tigers this season. Dylan Guenther has tallied 13 points (6G, 7A) during the season series to lead all Oil Kings scorers.
The game will also see hockey broadcasting legend Bob Ridley return to the mic for the first time this season to call the final game of the Tigers season after he was forced to miss the first 67 games due to a health issue.
The Oil Kings are 4-3-2-0 against the Rebels this season, and with a victory, they would win the series against the QEII rivals. Guenther also leads all Oil Kings scorers in the season series with the Rebels having put up 12 points (4G, 8A) in eight games, and not far behind his Justin Sourdif who has feasted on Red Deer since joining the Oil Kings at the Trade Deadline, having notched 10 points (6G, 4A) in only four games.
Edmonton Oil Kings Playoff Passes are on-sale now. For only $129/seat, you get access to every Oil Kings home playoff game. To purchase, click here.
The Oil Kings next home game is Thursday, April 21 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes for game one of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series.
