Preview: Prince George at Victoria - Sat, Feb 18

Logan Nelson crashes the net in a 4-2 win over the Cougars

The Victoria Royals (18-34-2-4) face the visiting Prince George Cougars (18-36-0-2) in the second of back to back games Saturday night.  Pregame show on The Zone @ 91.3 FM in Victoria at 6:45 or online at www.thezone.fm.

LAST GAME:  The Royals defeated the Cougars 4-2 Friday night by scoring 4 goals in the second period.  Victoria trailed 1-0 after a first period which saw 5 fights.  The Royals got goals from Brandon Magee, Steven Hodges, Jamie Crooks, and Dakota Conroy.  Victoria’s power play went 2 for 5, while stopping all 7 of Prince George’s man advantages.

Cougars leading scorer Troy Bourke.

The Royals penalty kill has been perfect in their last 4 games (13 for 13).  Victoria held PG to just 20 shots, a Royals season low.  They’ve out shot the opposition in 4 straight and 6 of 7 games.

The Royals who snapped their five game winless streak last night, wrap up their five game homestand tonight (1-3).

SEASON SERIES:  Victoria now leads the season series 4 games to 1.  They’ll finish the eight meetings next Friday and Saturday in Prince George.

Prince George 2 @ Victoria 4 (Feb 17 2012)
Prince George 1 @ Victoria 5 (Feb 1 2012)
Prince George 4 @ Victoria 2 (Jan 31 2012)
Victoria 6 @ Prince George 5 (Oct 1 2011)
Victoria 5 @ Prince George 4 (Sep 30 2011) SO

D Tyler Stahl returned to the line up for the Royals

STANDINGS: The win moves the Royals into a tie with the Thunderbirds for 7th, 3 ahead of the 9th place Silvertips, and 4 points up on the Cougars.  Prince George has two in hand while Everett and Seattle each have one.

WHO’S HOT: With a goal and assist last night Jamie Crooks extends his point streak to 8 games (6g 3a), and is tied with Oscar Moller for 3rd all time in goals with 71.  Steven Hodges and Ben Walker had two point nights.  Logan Nelson has assists in back to back games and tied for 3rd in rookie scoring.

COUGARS STATS:  The Cougars have scored the fewest goals in the league, with the fewest shots for.  They have the 22nd ranked power play and have taken the 5th most penalty minutes per game on average.

LEADING SCORERS:

For Prince George:
Bourke (10-30-40)
Carlson (8-25-33)
Fo rsberg (12-19-31)
Asuchak (15-13-28)
Fraser (13-11-24)

For Victoria:
Crooks (31-30-61)
Nelson (20-33-53)
Soudek (22-27-49)
Magee (20-22-42)
Rintoul (13-29-42)

ISLAND BOYS:  The Cougars boast two local players, F Greg Fraser from Nanaimo, and D Cody Carlson from Victoria who is second on the club in scoring with 33 points.

DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), and D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011).  For Prince George: D Ricard Blidstrand (7th PHI ’10).

TOP PROSPECTS:  Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s Steven Hodges (55), and Logan Nelson (108).  For PG: Troy Bourke (107).

INJ:
For Prince George:
#21, Shane Pilling, Upper body, day to day
#27, Alex Forsberg, Lower body, day to day
Additions #3, Marc McNulty, from AMHL

For Victoria:
#3, Zach Habscheid, Lower body, 1 month+

DOWN THE STRETCH:
Victoria:  Home Games (7), Away (7)
Opposition: Prince George x 3, Everett x 2, Vancouver x 3, Spokane x 2, Kelowna x 1, Portland x 2, Kamloops x 1