Preview: TRI at VIC

Rathjen stops Hughesman.  Credit: Photo by Jon Howe

The Tri City Americans beat the Royals 6-2 in Victoria Tuesday night paced by Justin Feser’s 2 goals and 2 assists.  The Royals only 1 point up on Kelowna in the division look to end a 2 game slide versus the Americans tonight on home ice.

#1's: Tri Cities scored first, and are now a perfect 15-0 when doing so.  They’ve been ranked 3rd in the CHL for a second week in a row, and sit on top of the league standings with the best winning percentage.  The Americans now boast the #1 Penalty Kill, but the Royals went 1 for 7, allowing 2 on 6 against.

Credit: Bruce Stotesbury Times Colonist

SHOTS: Victoria has out shot the opposition in 4 of the last 6 periods but still have the fewest shot per game on average in the league.

HOME & ROAD: The Royals drop to .500 on Home Ice, and are winless in 4 at the SOFMC.  The Americans are 5 games over .500 on the road, now riding a 3 game win streak.

WHO'S HOT: Adam Hughesman (TRI), and Kevin Sundher (VIC) are 5th and 6th in WHL scoring with 50 and 45 points respectively.  Brendan Shinniman (TRI) has 7 points in his last 3 outings and sits 12 in scoring with 40 points.  Logan Nelson is second in rookie scoring with 30 points but pointless in his last 3.  Zane Jones has goals in back to back games, 3 in his last 4.

Adam Hughesman.  Credit: Photo by Jon Howe

SERIES: The season series sits tied at a game a piece, Victoria won in Tri Cities 5-4 on Oct 25th and will meet there one final time on February 4th.

2 GAME MINI SETS: Victoria has not been shut out in 2 game sets this season.  8 times they’ve faced the same opponent on back to back nights, sweeping Kelowna and Prince George, picking up splits against Seattle, Medicine Hat, Red Deer and twice Vancouver, plus taking a single point in an overtime loss to Kamloops.

Up Next:  It's Teddy Bear Toss night on Friday when the Lethbridge Hurricanes come for their first meeting of the season.  The Hurricanes have won 4 in a row, play Kelowna tonight.  Then the Royals head off to play in Seattle Saturday, wrapping up 4 games in 5 nights for a second week in a row.  The road trip continues to Edmonton, a rematch in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat a week Saturday before the Christmas Break.

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