Pregame show at 5:40 on The Zone @ 91.3 FM, or online at www.thezone.fm
"They're a good hockey team, they've got 3 really good lines, their defense and goaltender is good. We have to play some really good defense, and get as many shots on goal as we can...and enjoy the experience." - Royals Assistant Coach Enio Sacilotto
It’s the first of 2 meetings this season, last year the Edmonton won both games 8-2 in Victoria November 8th, and 6-3 at home December 14th. They’ll meet again at Rexall February 17th 2013.
The Royals picked up a point in a 3-2 shoot out loss at the Rebels Friday night. Logan Nelson and Jack Walker scored the goals for Victoria, Jack’s first in the WHL. His brother Ben assisted on both goals.
Victoria now has points in their last 3 straight, and 5 of 6 games. They’ll look to go .500 on the road tonight with a (7-8-0-1) record. The Royals have points in 5 consecutive games away from home. (4-0-0-1).
The Oil Kings have won their last 2 in a row, 5-2 versus the visiting Blazers on Wednesday, and 4-2 in Calgary. Edmonton has won 4 of their last 6 games, and are 2nd in points in the East with 45. They’ve won 7 of their past 10 (7-2-0-1) and at home have a 10 over .500 record (13-3-1-2).
The Oil Kings special teams is tops in both departments, power play and penalty kill. They’ve taken the 2nd most shots for and allowed the 2nd fewest on average per game.
The Royals Ben Walker is on a 4 game point streak (5a), Brett Cote has points in his last 3 (1g 2a), and Logan Nelson (1g 1a) and Jack Walker (1g 2a) have points in back to back games.
After the game Saturday, Victoria will travel close to 1200 km, over 14 hours home for the Christmas break. They’ll entertain Prince George for a pair December 28th and 29th.
How the 2 teams match up
Edmonton
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Victoria
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| Team Record | 20-7-2-3 -- 45 points | 17-13-0-2 -- 36 points |
| Division Ranking | 2nd Central | 3rd B.C. |
| Conference Ranking | 3rd Eastern | 6th Western |
| League Ranking | 7th | 12th |
| Past 10 Games | 7-2-0-1 | 6-2-0-2 |
| Streak | 2-0-0-0 | 2-0-0-1 |
| Last Game | 5-2 W vs Kamloops (Dec 12 2012) Final | 3-2 L @ Red Deer (Dec 14 2012) Final SO |
| Home Record | 13-3-1-2 | 10-5-0-1 |
| Away Record | 7-4-1-1 | 7-8-0-1 |
| GF | 107 | 95 |
| GA | 82 | 104 |
| PP (Overall) | (34/126) 27.0 | (31/151) 20.5 |
| PP (Home) | (26/89) 29.2 | (13/73) 17.8 |
| PP (Away) | (8/37) 21.6 | (18/78) 23.1 |
| PK (Overall) | (13/154) 91.6 | (28/142) 80.3 |
| PK (Home) | (9/85) 89.4 | (12/61) 80.3 |
| PK (Away) | (4/69) 94.2 | (16/81) 80.2 |
| Leading Rookie | Kulda (4-5-9) | Hicketts (1-8-9) |
| Most PIM | Lowe - 82 | Kanzig - 70 |
| Team PIM/GM | 17.2/Game | 19.8/Game |
| Leading Scorers | St. Croix (14-25-39) | Gogolev (13-23-36) |
| Wruck (11-27-38) | Nelson (8-23-31) | |
| Samuelsson (16-16-32) | Walker (10-16-26) | |
| Foster (13-19-32) | Crooks (15-9-24) | |
| Lazar (14-10-24) | Magee (13-10-23) | |
| Last 5 Games | 5-2 W vs Kamloops (Dec 12 2012) Final | 3-2 L @ Red Deer (Dec 14 2012) Final SO |
| 4-2 W @ Calgary (Dec 8 2012) Final | 6-2 W @ Seattle (Dec 11 2012) Final | |
| 5-2 L vs Calgary (Dec 7 2012) Final | 2-1 W vs Swift Current (Dec 8 2012) Final | |
| 6-2 L @ Lethbridge (Dec 5 2012) Final | 7-2 L vs Vancouver (Dec 5 2012) Final | |
| 4-3 W vs Lethbridge (Dec 2 2012) Final | 4-3 W @ Prince George (Dec 1 2012) Final | |
| Leading After 1st | 14-2-0-1 | 9-2-0-1 |
| Leading After 2nd | 17-1-1-1 | 10-0-0-1 |
| Tied After 1st | 2-1-1-0 | 5-3-0-1 |
| Tied After 2nd | 2-2-0-2 | 1-1-0-0 |
| Trailing After 1st | 4-4-1-2 | 3-8-0-0 |
| Trailing After 2nd | 1-4-1-0 | 6-12-0-1 |
| Out Shooting Opponents | 15-6-1-3 | 6-3-0-1 |
| Out Shot by Opponents | 5-1-1-0 | 9-10-0-1 |
| 1-Goal Games | 5-3-2-3 | 10-2-0-2 |
| 2-Goal Games | 8-0-0-0 | 4-2-0-0 |
| 3-Goal Games | 3-3-0-0 | 1-6-0-0 |
