PREVIEW: Oil Kings vs. Swift Current Broncos 12.15.23

EDMONTON OIL KINGS (8-19-0-1) vs. SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS (15-13-1-2) – December 15, 2023 – Rogers Place – 7:00 PM

EOK Today – Tickets  – Game Notes

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2023-24 Schedule vs. Swift Current Broncos

Friday, Dec 15 @ Edmonton

Friday, Feb 9 @ Swift Current

Saturday, Mar 2 @ Edmonton

Wednesday, Mar 6 @ Swift Current

Sunday, Mar 17 @ Edmonton

 

 

2023-24 vs. Swift Current: 0-0-0-0 Home: 0-0-0-0 Away: 0-0-0-0 PP: 0/0 (0.0%) PK: 0/0 (0.0%)

2022-23 vs. Swift Current: 0-5-0-0 Home: 0-2-0-0 Away: 0-3-0-0 PP: 3/25 (12.0%) PK: 7/21 (66.7%)

 

Matchup Notes

Tonight marks the first of five meetings between the Oil Kings and Broncos this season.

All-time, these two Clubs have met 54 times in the regular season with the Oil Kings holding a record of 38-21-3-2.

Last season, the Broncos swept the five-game season series.

Mason Finley (3G, 1A) and Gavin Hodnett (1G, 3A) led the Oil Kings in scoring last season against the Broncos with four points each. Josh Filmon (8G, 5A) led the Broncos in scoring vs. Edmonton with 13 points in five games including a double hat-trick on December 16, 2022.

Coming In

The Oil Kings come in off a narrow 3-2 loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday at Rogers Place.

Gavin Hodnett scored less than a minute into the game to get Edmonton off to a strong start, but a three-goal second period by the Tigers would prove to be the difference. Roan Woodward added his third goal in his last four games in the third to get the Oil Kings within one, but that is as close as they would come. Kolby Hay made a season-high 41 saves in the loss. The Oil Kings PK unit remained stingy holding one of the league’s best power plays off the board on three chances. The Oil Kings PK has now killed off 31 of the last 35 power plays against over the last 10 games.

The Broncos are in coming off a 3-2 loss last night in Red Deer against the Rebels, it was just their second regulation defeat in their last seven games. Thanks to goals from Rylan Gould and Brady Birnie, they were able to erase a pair of one goal deficits but a Hunter Mayo power play goal with just 3:27 left in the game would prove to be the difference.

EOK Notables

Oil Kings defenceman Marc Lajoie sits 14^th in defenceman points (21), third in defenceman goals (9) and first in defenceman PP goals (6) in the WHL.

With his six power play goals, Lajoie ranks 5^th all-time amongst Oil Kings defencemen for PP goals in a single-season, trailing Aaron Irving (7, 2015-16), Cody Corbett (7, 2013-14), Conner McDonald (8, 2018-19) and Simon Kubicek (9, 2021-22).

The Oil Kings lead the WHL in attendance (5,607 avg.).

SC Notables

Broncos forward Rylan Gould has 10 points (2G, 8A) in his last 6 games. With 32 points (9G, 23A) in 30 games this season he has surpassed his production from the past two seasons combined where he had 17 points (5G, 12A) in 130 games.

Broncos forward Josh Filmon has four points (1G, 3A) in his last five games. 364 days ago, at Rogers Place, he became the first WHL player since Tyler Ennis (Feb. 27, 2009) to record a six-goal game. Five players (Brian Propp – 1977, Ray Ferraro – 1984, Mark Mackay – 1988, Dennis Holland – 1988, Kimbi Daniels – 1990) have scored 7 goals in a single-game, which is the WHL record.

Broncos forward Connor Hvidston has six goals in his last seven games and eight points (6G, 2A) in that span.

Broncos forward Caleb Wyrostok has four points (3G, 1A) in his last four games.

Milestone Watch

• D Carter Kowalyk is 1 game away from 100 career games.
• G Kolby Hay is 1 win away from passing Dylan Myskiw and Torrie Jung for 5^th most wins in franchise history.

Lineup Report

• D Rhys Pederson, lower-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 13).
• F Rilen Kovacevic, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 10).
• D Ethan MacKenzie, upper-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 9).
• F Adam Jecho, lower-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 9).
• D Reid Larson, lower-body, month-to-month (Games missed: 4).
• F Skyler Bruce, lower-body, week-to-week (Games missed: 4).
• F Vojtech Port, Team Czechia, World Juniors (Games missed: 0).
• F Nathan Pilling, upper-body, day-to-day (Games missed: 0).

Streaks

• F Skyler Bruce is on a 4-game point streak (3g-1a-4pts) and a 3-game goal streak (3G).
• F Adam Jecho is on a 2-game assist/point streak (1g-2a-3pts).
• F Marshall Finnie is on a 2-game point streak (1g-1a-2pts).
• F Gavin Hodnett is on a 2-game point streak (1g-1a-2pts).
• D Vojtech Port is on a 2-game point streak (1g-1a-2pts).

Who’s Hot

• F Gavin Hodnett has 20 points (4G, 16A) in his last 17 games.
• D Marc Lajoie has 14 points (6G, 8A) in his last 16 games.
• F Rilen Kovacevic has 10 goals in his last 15 games.
• F Skyler Bruce has 15 points (10G, 5A) in his last 15 games.
• F Roan Woodward has 7 points (4G, 3A) in his last 10 games.
• F Adam Jecho has 8 points (3G, 5A) in his last 7 games.
• D Vojtech Port has 7 points (1G, 6A) in his last 7 games.
• F Marshall Finnie has 6 points (2G, 4A) in his last 6 games.