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| #10 Ben Walker vs Brandon Glover |
SEASON SERIES: It’s the second and final meeting of the season, with Calgary winning in Victoria 9-4 back on January 3rd. Logan Nelson had a hat trick for the Royals, but the Hitmen power play struck three times on four opportunities while Jimmy Bubnick led Calgary with 2 goals and 2 assists.
LAST GAME: Victoria is coming off a pair of 3-2 losses to the Everett Silvertips last Tuesday and Wednesday and are winless in 4. Calgary has dropped 4 straight, and 5 of 6 after winning 14 of 15. During their past 6, the power play has dried up going 1 for 20, while the opposition has scored 9 times on 28 chances. They wrapped up a 3 game homestand with a 4-0 loss to the Kootenay Ice on Sunday.
STANDINGS: The Royals are 8th in the West with 40 points, 1 up on the Silvertips, and 4 points ahead of the Cougars who have 2 in hand, who will be in Victoria for a pair on Friday and Saturday. The Hitmen are 6th in the East , 2 back of the Blades, and 3 up on the Pats. Only 9 points separates 2nd and 6th in the Conference.
X FACTORS: Some eye catching statistics relating to Calgary; 2nd most penalty minutes taken on average per game (24.75), and 2nd fewest shots allowed per game (27.35). Short handed, they’ve scored the 2nd most goals with 13. Overall the Hitmen have the 6th most goals for, while allowing the 10th fewest.
Victoria has taken the 5th fewest penalties per game on average while scoring the 12th most goals per game in the league.
HOME ICE: Victoria is 4 under .500 at home (10-14-1-2). Calgary has only lost once to a BC division opponent in 7 games and are 5 over .500 on the road (16-11-2-0).
DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), and D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011). For Calgary, D Alex Roach (LA ’11), F Brooks Macek (DET ’10), F Jimmy Bubnick (ATL ’09), F Victor Rask (CAR ’11).
LEADING SCORERS:
Bubnick (26-31-57)
Sylvester (18-38-56)
Brassart (18-26-44)
Rask (23-19-42)
Gogolev (22-19-41)
Crooks (30-28-58)
Nelson (20-31-51)
Soudek (22-26-48)
Magee (19-22-41)
Rintoul (12-29-41)
INJURIES:
Calgary:
#9, Jaynen Rissling, Lower body, 2 weeks
#19, Calder Brooks, Upper body, 1 week
Returns:
#11, Brooks Macek, from injury
#12, Joe Kornelsen, from injury
#16, Cody Sylvester, from illness
Victoria:
#3, Zach Habscheid, Lower body, 1 month+
#18, Brandon Magee, Lower body, day to day
Suspension #7, Tyler Stahl, 1 game remaining
TOP PROSPECTS: Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s F Steven Hodges (55), and F Logan Nelson (108). For Calgary, D Jaynen Rissling (165).
DOWN THE STRETCH:
Victoria: Home Games (9), Away (7)
Opposition: Prince George x 4, Everett x 2, Calgary x 1, Vancouver x 3, Spokane x 2, Kelowna x 1, Portland x 2, Kamloops x 1
