PREVIEW: Oil Kings @ Lethbridge Hurricanes 2.23.24
FEBRUARY 23, 2024 – ENMAX CENTRE – 7:00 PM
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2023-24 Schedule vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes
Friday, Sept 29 @ Edmonton (4-3 SO LETH)
Sunday, Oct 1 @ Edmonton (8-5 EDM)
Monday, Oct 9 @ Edmonton (5-2 LETH)
Tuesday, Jan 30 @ Lethbridge (4-2 LETH)
Friday, Feb 23 @ Lethbridge
Wednesday, Mar 13 @ Lethbridge
Matchup Notes
Tonight marks the 5th of 6 meetings in the regular season between the 2 clubs. Lethbridge has won 3 of the 4 previous meetings.
Adam Jecho leads all Oil Kings in scoring during the season series with four points (2G, 2A), while Noah Chadwick (1G, 4A) leads the way for the Hurricanes in the head to head with five points.
All-time, the Oil Kings and Rebels have met 102 times in the regular season with the Oil Kings holding a record of 54-38-2-8.
Coming In
The Oil Kings are coming off of a 4 games in 6 days stretch where they picked up six of a possible 8 points.
Edmonton mounted a remarkable 3rd period comeback victory on Wednesday afternoon in the annual “Hockey Hooky Day” game, 5-4 over the Calgary Hitmen. Edmonton scored twice in the final 30 seconds of play, including Gavin Hodnett’s game winner with just :09 seconds left on the clock in front of 15,363 rowdy fans at Rogers Place.
The Oil Kings carried a 3-1 lead into the third period, only to see it evaporate away midway through the third as the Hitmen clawed back to take a 4-3 lead. Affiliate Luke Powell scored his first Western Hockey League goal in just his 3rd WHL game.
That was Edmonton’s first victory in 7 contests vs the Calgary Hitmen in 2023/24..
EOK Notables
● Oil Kings prospect Luke Powell scored his first Western Hockey League goal on Wednesday vs Calgary.
● Oil Kings Forward Gavin Hodnett collected his 100th career point in the Western Hockey League on Wednesday.
● Oil Kings Forward Gracyn Sawchyn will be playing in his 100th career Western Hockey League game on Friday night.
● Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie sits 11th in defenceman points (44), 2nd in defenceman goals (19), 1st in defenceman PP goals (11) and tied for 4th in defenceman PP points (24) in the WHL. His 11 power play goals rank tied for 5th overall in the entire WHL amongst all skaters.
● Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie is in for 5th for the most career power play goals by an Oil Kings defenceman in franchise history with 11 trailing only Griffin Reinhart (12), Cody Corbett (12), Aaron Irving (13) and Conner McDonald (14).
● Oil Kings forward Adam Jecho is 14th in WHL rookie scoring with 33 points (16G, 17A) in just 41 games.
● The Oil Kings lead the WHL in attendance (6,662 avg.).
LETH Notables
● Hurricanes Forward Miguel Marques has tripled his goal total (24) from last season (8) already, in 4 less games than he played in all of the 2022/23 season (59).
● Hurricanes Forward Sean Tschigerl leads the team with 26 goals, but has not scored in 8 consecutive games.
● Hurricanes Forward Dylan Sydor is tied for 5th in the Western Hockey League with 11 powerplay goals.
● Hurricanes Goalie Harrison Meneghin sits 6th amongst all Western Hockey League Goalies with a 2.60 GAA, 4th in the WHL in wins with 23 and 4th in save percentage with a .918 through 45 appearances in 2023/24.
Milestone Watch
● F Ty Nash is 7 games away from 250 career WHL games.
● F Ty Nash is 1 point away from 150 career WHL points.
● D Marc Lajoie is 8 assists away from 100 career WHL assists.
● F Gavin Hodnett has reached 100 career WHL points.
Lineup Report
● D Ethan MacKenzie, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 36).
● F Presley Kerner, lower-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 5)
● F John Szabo, upper-body, day-to-day (Games missed 4)
● F Skyler Bruce, lower-body, day-to-day (Games missed: 4)
● D Ismail Abougouche, suspended, 3-games (Games served: 2)
● F Andrej Tomasec, day-to-day (Games missed: 1)
Streaks
● F Gavin Hodnett is on a 5-game point streak (2g-6a-8pts).
● F Gracyn Sawchyn is on a 7-game point streak (4g-4a-8pts).
● F Ty Nash is on a 3-game point streak (2g-3a-5pts).
Who’s Hot
● F Marshall Finnie has 5 points (3G, 2A) in his last 4 games.
● F Ty Nash has 14 points (4G, 10A) in his last 15 games.
● D Blake Fiddler has 5 points (1G, 4A) in his last 4 games.
● F Gracyn Sawchyn has 13 points (9G, 20A) in his last 12 games.
● F Gavin Hodnett has 10 points (3G, 7A) in his last 7 games.
