Wednesday 26 November 2014

Preview: Victoria at Spokane, Wed Nov.26th

Tonight the Victoria Royals (14-12-2-0, 30pts) are in Spokane to meet the Chiefs (12-7-3-0, 27pts) for the first time since sweeping them in the first round of last springs playoffs.

Pregame show at 6:40, with puck drop at 7pm on The Zone @ 91.3 fm www.thezone.fm/whl

Spokane sits 5th in the West, 3 points back of 3rd place Victoria, however the Chiefs have played 6 fewer games.

Last night the Royals had their two game win streak snapped in Portland by a 4-2 score against the Winterhawks.  Oliver Bjorkstrand got a pair for the Winterhawks who overcame a 2-1 second period deficit.  Victoria had 38 shots and got goals from Brandon Fushimi shorthanded, and Greg Chase, his first as a Royal.  Jayden Sittler took the loss making 32 saves.

The Chiefs have won 3 in a row, all by 2-1 scores in span of 3 nights.  They earned the victories in Seattle last Friday, Tri City Saturday and at home in overtime to Kamloops Sunday.  Rookie Kailer Yamamoto scored two of the three game winners and is tied for 7th in rookie scoring with 13 points.  Netminder Garrett Houghson was in goal for the last two victories.

Spokane is .500 at home with a 5-5-2-0 record, while Victoria is 6-9 on the road.

The Chiefs have the 3rd best penalty kill, and 17th ranked power play.  They’ve allowed the 7th fewest goals against, while scoring the 5th fewest goals on average per game.

Spokane is led in scoring Adam Helewka’s 28 points in 19 games.  Calder Brooks is second with 21 points, tied with defenseman Jason Fram.

Gone from the Chiefs line up from last season are graduating players Mike Aviani, Mitch Holmberg and netminder Eric Williams.  Moving on were defenseman Jeremy McIntosh, Reid Gow and Cole Wedman.

The Royals have the 5th best power play while scoring the 9th most goals for on average per game.  They’ve only allowed 9 short handed chances over the last 4 games, stopping all but one.

Victoria’s Joe Hicketts leads the CHL in defenseman scoring with 34 points, picking up an assist in Portland.  He’s 5th in overall scoring.

Austin Carroll is 3rd in goals scored with 17, tied for 8th in scoring with 32 points.

Defenseman Travis Brown is tied for most goals by a rearguard with 9, with a league high 8 coming on the power play.

The Royals will be without G Evan Smith and F Dante Hannoun due to injury, and Brandon Magee serving the 4th of a 5 game suspension.

After Spokane Wednesday, Victoria wraps up their 3 game road trip in Kamloops Saturday.

- Marlon Martens

Spokane Chiefs NHL Camp Attendees (2)
Jason Fram, Calgary Flames, F/A, No
Adam Helewka, St. Louis Blues, F/A, No

Victoria Royals vs Spokane Chiefs: Head To Head Stats Summary
  
Description
Result
Head to Head Record 2014-15 Regular SeasonVictoria 0-0-0-0Spokane 0-0-0-0
Head to Head Record 2013-14 Regular SeasonVictoria 1-3-0-0Spokane 3-1-0-0
Last 5 Years record between teamsVictoria 3-10-1-2Spokane 13-3-0-0
Victoria vs. Spokane Last 5 Years record at VictoriaVictoria 1-6-1-0Spokane 7-1-0-0
Victoria vs. Spokane Last 5 Years record at SpokaneVictoria 2-4-0-2Spokane 6-2-0-0
  

How the 2 teams match up
   
 
Spokane
Victoria
Team Record12-7-3-0 -- 27 points14-12-2-0 -- 30 points
Division Ranking3rd U.S.2nd B.C.
Conference Ranking5th Western3rd Western
League Ranking11th6th
Past 10 Games6-4-0-05-5-0-0
Streak3-0-0-00-1-0-0
Last Game2-1 W vs Kamloops (Nov 23 2014) Final OT4-2 L @ Portland (Nov 25 2014) Final
Home Record5-5-2-08-3-2-0
Away Record7-2-1-06-9-0-0
GF63 90 
GA62 93 
PP (Overall)(15/88) 17.0(30/127) 23.6
PP (Home)(5/45) 11.1(15/48) 31.3
PP (Away)(10/43) 23.3(15/79) 19.0
PK (Overall)(13/99) 86.9(28/124) 77.4
PK (Home)(7/52) 86.5(9/49) 81.6
PK (Away)(6/47) 87.2(19/75) 74.7
Leading RookieYamamoto (6-7-13)Nagy (3-5-8)
Most PIMFiala - 37Crunk - 62
Team PIM/GM14.1/Game17.5/Game
Leading ScorersHelewka (12-16-28)Hicketts (7-27-34)
 Brooks (8-13-21)Carroll (17-15-32)
 Fram (2-19-21)Magee (8-16-24)
 Stewart (10-6-16)Brown (9-12-21)
 Yamamoto (6-7-13)Blomqvist (10-10-20)
Last 5 Games2-1 W vs Kamloops (Nov 23 2014) Final OT4-2 L @ Portland (Nov 25 2014) Final
 2-1 W @ Tri-City (Nov 22 2014) Final5-0 W vs Regina (Nov 22 2014) Final
 2-1 W @ Seattle (Nov 21 2014) Final3-1 W vs Everett (Nov 21 2014) Final
 5-3 L vs Tri-City (Nov 15 2014) Final5-3 L vs Kelowna (Nov 19 2014) Final
 4-2 W @ Kamloops (Nov 14 2014) Final4-3 W vs Kelowna (Nov 18 2014) Final OT
Leading After 1st6-1-0-07-2-0-0
Leading After 2nd7-0-1-09-1-0-0
Tied After 1st3-4-3-04-3-0-0
Tied After 2nd3-0-1-02-1-1-0
Trailing After 1st3-2-0-03-7-2-0
Trailing After 2nd2-7-1-03-10-1-0
Out Shooting Opponents8-4-1-08-4-1-0
Out Shot by Opponents4-2-2-05-7-1-0
1-Goal Games8-3-3-06-3-2-0
2-Goal Games3-3-0-03-4-0-0
3-Goal Games1-0-0-01-2-0-0