Preview: Victoria at Prince George, Sat. Feb 25th

The 7th place Victoria Royals (19-36-2-4, 44 pts), look for back to back wins as they visit the 10th place Prince George Cougars (19-39-0-2, 40pts) in the final of a two game set Saturday night.  Pregame show on The Zone @ 91.3 FM starts at 6:45pm.

LAST GAME:  Victoria broke a 1-1 tie with a two goal second period, and added an empty netter for a 4-2 victory in Prince George last night.  Jared Rathjen in his hometown, made 26 saves for his first WHL victory.  The Royals got goals from Hayden Rintoul, Dakota Conroy, Austin Carroll and Robin Soudek. 

Victoria’s power play remains hot, going 1 for 2 on the night and 6 for 15 (40%) over their last four.  Victoria stopped all three Prince George man advantages.

Royals keeper, Jared Rathjen

STANDINGS: The Royals are in sole possesion of 7th in the West with 44 points, 2 ahead of the Thunderbirds.  The Silvertips remain 9th, 3 back of the Royals after a 4-2 loss at Tri City.  The 10th place Cougars are 4 points back.  Seattle has 2 games in hand, while Everett and Prince George have one.  Everett plays in Seattle tonight.

SERIES: It’s the final meeting of the season, the Royals with a 5-2 record thus far, winning all three games played so far in Prince George.

Victoria 4 @ Prince George 2 (Feb 24 2012)
Prince George 3 @ Victoria 1 (Feb 18 2012)
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

WHO’S HOT: Hayden Rintoul is 8th in defenseman scoring (46 pts), continues to lead all rearguards in power play tallies with 13, and has a 3 game point streak (2g 2a).  Austin Carroll has scored in back to back games (2g), while Zane Jones has 2 helpers in his last 2.

VICTORIA        PRINCE GEORGE

        10th    PP    22nd
        17th    PK    15th   
        12th    GF    22nd  
        22nd   GA    15th
        19th    SF    22nd
        15th    SA    14th   

HOME & AWAY:  Victoria looks for their 9th road win as they wrap up a 3 game trip (1-1) Saturday in Prince George.  The Cougars play the second of an 8 game home stand, with an 11 under .500 record in PG.

Game play Friday in Victoria's 4-2 win at Prince George.

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

Prince George:
#21, Shane Pilling, Upper body, day to day
#23, Austin Daae, Upper body, day to day
#27, Alex Forsberg, Lower body, day to day

LEADING SCORERS:

Crooks (32-30-62)
Nelson (21-33-54)
Soudek (23-28-51)
Rintoul (15-31-46)
Magee (20-23-43)

Bourke (12-30-42)
Carlson (8-26-34)
Forsberg (12-19-31)
Asuchak (15-14-29)
Fraser (15-11-26)

REMAINING GAMES:
Victoria 11: Home (6), Road (5)

Feb. 25 at Prince George
Feb. 28 Spokane
Feb. 29 Spokane
Mar. 3 Vancouver
Mar. 4 Vancouver
Mar. 7 at Everett
Mar. 9 at Kelowna
Mar. 10 at Everett
Mar. 11 at Vancouver
Mar. 14 Portland
Mar. 16 Portland

Prince George 12: Home (8), Road (4)

Feb. 25 Victoria  
Feb. 28 Medicine Hat  
Feb. 29 Medicine Hat  
Mar. 2 Spokane  
Mar. 3 Spokane  
Mar. 6 Seattle  
Mar. 7 Seattle  
Mar. 10 at Kelowna
Mar. 11 at Tri-City
Mar. 13 at Tri-City
Mar. 16 at Kamloops 
Mar. 17 Kamloops