Teams in the Western Hockey League have 6 or less games remaining in their respective schedules. The Eastern Conference has only one spot you can say is locked up which is the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 4th place. Currently the Edmonton Oil Kings are in 5th place setting up a first round matchup against the Canes if all the stays the same to finish out the year. Edmonton has gone 4W-3L thus far in the regular season against Lethbridge.
Today (Wednesday March 12th) the Calgary Hitmen are in Edmonton. The Hitmen sit 2 points out of first place in the conference with two games in hand on the leaders the Medicine Hat Tigers. While the popular sentiment is for the "battle of Alberta version WHL", it is not an enviable playoff matchup for the Oil Kings as the Hitmen have gone 5W-1L against the Club. Granted, maybe with 10,000 screaming kids at Rogers Place today, the Oil Kings could be willed (or more rightfully written "shrilled") to victory. Of course if the Oil Kings win the final meeting between these two teams on Sunday in Calgary, a playoff meeting would be less intimidating.
Sandwiched between the two Calgary games is a home game versus the Prince Albert Raiders. The Raiders lost back-to-back games to the Saskatoon Blades dropping them down in the standings last weekend. The following Monday morning, the Raiders fired their head coach. Between the Raiders, Blades and Brandon Wheat Kings one will finish second in the Eastern Conference due to finishing first in the East Division. If the Oil Kings slip to 7th, this could be a first round matchup preview.
The Oil Kings hopefully will get their captain Gavin Hodnett back in the lineup during this 3-game stretch of games. Little less hopeful but the returns of defensive regulars Rhys Pederson and Ethan MacKenzie would be a boost to the Club.
With MacKenzie "unofficially" out due to an injury sustained in a fight, it is only right to send out best wishes to Tri-City Americans defenseman Terrell Goldsmith who will officially miss time due to injuries sustained in a fight. All of us here at Shotgun Sports and Oil King Nation wish Goldsmith the speediest of recoveries.
Milestone Watch
Gracyn Sawchyn is 5 points away from 200 in his WHL career. The Florida Panthers 2023 2nd round draft pick has played in 162 career games.
Adam Jecho is 2 points shy of 100 in his WHL career. The St. Louis Blues 2024 3rd round draft pick has played in 105 career games all for the Oil Kings.
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