Thursday 13 December 2012

Preview: Victoria at Red Deer

The Victoria Royals (17-13-0-1, 35pts) look for their 5th consecutive road win against the Red Deer Rebels (19-12-2-1, 41pts) Friday night.
Royals celebrate 6-2 win in Seattle

Pregame show on The Zone at 6:10, puck drop 6:30 pacific.  Online at www.thezone.fm .

Victoria has a (7-8) road record after wins in Seattle, twice in Prince George and Medicine Hat.  Red Deer is 4 over .500 at the Centrium (9-5-1-0).

It’s the first of 2 meetings of the season, both on the road.  Last year the Rebels visited the Island and the Royals split the back to back games with a 4-3 shoot out win after a 7-4 loss Nov 12 & 13 2011.  They’ll meet again in Red Deer Feb. 15th.

Victoria is on a 2 game win streak and 4 in 5 games after a 6-2 victory at Seattle Tuesday night.  Alex Gogolev lead the way with 2 goals and an assist, Austin Carroll (1g 1a) had the Gordie Howe Hat Trick, while Jamie Crooks (1g 1a) and Jack Walker (2a) each had two point nights.

The Royals power play went 3 for 7, and outshot the Thunderbirds 43-31, a new season high.  Patrik Polivka earned his 14th career win, while Brett Cote notched his 4th game winning goal of the season, tops by all defenseman.

The victory moves Victoria into sole possession of 6th in the West, 2 points up on Seattle.

The Red Deer Rebels suffered their first regulation loss in the 11 games since GM / Interim Head Coach Brent Sutter took over back on Nov 14th (9-1-1-0).  They fell 2-1 to the visiting Calgary Hitmen Tuesday.  It’s back to back losses after dropping a 5-4 overtime decision in Moose Jaw, snapping a 9 game win streak.

The Rebels sit 4th in the East with 41 points, 4 out of top spot.

Red Deer acquired 18 year old forward Dominik Volek from Regina Wednesday in exchange for forwards Marc McCoy, Filip Vasko, and a conditional 2015 WHL Bantam Draft pick.

The Rebels are currently without D Matthew Dumba and G Patrik Bartosak who are attending World Junior Selection camps for Canada and the Czech Republic respectively.

After Friday’s game in Red Deer, Victoria plays in Edmonton Saturday before pausing for the Christmas break.  Their next home games will be Dec 28 and 29th versus the Prince George Cougars.



How the 2 teams match up

Red Deer
Victoria
Team Record 19-12-2-1 -- 41 points 17-13-0-1 -- 35 points
Division Ranking 3rd Central 3rd B.C.
Conference Ranking 4th Eastern 6th Western
League Ranking 8th 11th
Past 10 Games 8-1-1-0 6-3-0-1
Streak 0-1-1-0 2-0-0-0
Last Game 2-1 L vs Calgary (Dec 12 2012) Final 6-2 W @ Seattle (Dec 11 2012) Final
Home Record 9-5-1-0 10-5-0-1
Away Record 10-7-1-1 7-8-0-0
GF 94  93 
GA 94  101 
PP (Overall) (19/119) 16.0 (30/145) 20.7
PP (Home) (8/54) 14.8 (13/73) 17.8
PP (Away) (11/65) 16.9 (17/72) 23.6
PK (Overall) (20/150) 86.7 (28/139) 79.9
PK (Home) (9/57) 84.2 (12/61) 80.3
PK (Away) (11/93) 88.2 (16/78) 79.5
Leading Rookie Bleackley (7-8-15) Hicketts (1-7-8)
Most PIM Underwood - 54 Kanzig - 70
Team PIM/GM 14.6/Game 19.9/Game
Leading Scorers Ness (10-12-22) Gogolev (13-23-36)
Elson (9-13-22) Nelson (7-23-30)
Hamilton (3-18-21) Crooks (15-9-24)
Bellerive (7-13-20) Walker (10-14-24)
Dumba (7-10-17) Magee (13-10-23)
Last 5 Games 2-1 L vs Calgary (Dec 12 2012) Final 6-2 W @ Seattle (Dec 11 2012) Final
5-4 L @ Brandon (Dec 8 2012) Final OT 2-1 W vs Swift Current (Dec 8 2012) Final
2-1 W @ Moose Jaw (Dec 7 2012) Final 7-2 L vs Vancouver (Dec 5 2012) Final
5-1 W @ Regina (Dec 5 2012) Final 4-3 W @ Prince George (Dec 1 2012) Final
3-0 W vs Saskatoon (Dec 1 2012) Final 2-0 W @ Prince George (Nov 30 2012) Final
Leading After 1st 8-1-1-1 9-2-0-1
Leading After 2nd 10-0-0-0 10-0-0-1
Tied After 1st 4-7-1-0 5-3-0-0
Tied After 2nd 6-5-2-0 1-1-0-0
Trailing After 1st 7-4-0-0 3-8-0-0
Trailing After 2nd 3-7-0-1 6-12-0-0
Out Shooting Opponents 9-2-1-1 6-3-0-0
Out Shot by Opponents 9-10-1-0 9-10-0-1
1-Goal Games 12-5-2-1 10-2-0-1
2-Goal Games 3-2-0-0 4-2-0-0
3-Goal Games 1-1-0-0 1-6-0-0