Saturday 19 October 2013

Preview: Victoria at Spokane, Saturday Oct. 19th

The Victoria Royals (8-6, 16pts) wrap up their 2 game US road swing against Spokane Chiefs (10-2, 20pts) Saturday night.

Pregame show on The Zone @ 91.3 fm at 6:45, or online at www.thezone.fm

It’s the 3rd meeting of the season as previously the Chiefs won a pair of back to back games on the Island by 6-2 and 6-1 scores on Sept. 24th and 25th.  The leagues leading scorer, Mitch Holmberg had 7 points (3g 4a) and Mike Aviani 6 points (4g 2a) in the two games.  Spokane's power play was lethal, scoring on 5 of 9 chances.

The Chiefs are ranked 3rd in the CHL, and 1st in the WHL with a league high 9 wins in 11 games.  They are undefeated at home with a 4-0 record and riding a 4 game win streak after a 4-2 win over the visiting Silvertips Friday night. 

Mitch Holmberg had a pair in the first, now with a league leading 16 goals and 31 points in 12 games.  Both Jacob Cardiff and Adam Hascic notched their first career WHL goals, while Reid Gow had two assists.  Eric Williams made 17 saves for his league high 8th win.  Aviani who’s 3rd in league scoring with 21 points, was held off the score sheet.

Spokane has allowed the fewest goals against on average in the league, while scoring the 5th most.  Aviani and Holmberg have combined for 57% of the clubs goals (27/47).  The Chiefs penalty kill is ranked 3rd, but the Royals is #2 in the league.

Victoria had their 5 game win streak snapped at Tri City with a 4-2 loss Friday night, never fully recovering from a 3-0, second period deficit.  Luke Harrison and Brett Cote cut the lead to 3-2 in the middle frame, while outshoot the Americans 39-23 overall, but Riley Southam’s 2nd of the night in the third put the game out of reach.  Ben Walker added two assists and was named 3rd star.

“We certainly did deserve a better fate, I thought we got a good effort from everybody.”  According Royals Assistant Coach, Enio Sacilotto, “Overall I thought we outchanced them and played most of the game in there end.”

The Royals were without Brandon Magee (lower, day to day), breaking up the Logan Nelson and Austin Carroll line that produced 26 points over their last 6 games.

“That’s huge, (Magee’s) a huge contributor to our team and is certainly missed when he’s not in the line up.” Said Sacilotto on the absence of Magee.

17 year old forward Mitch Skapski made his Royals debut after being acquired from the Everett Silvertips.

“We were happy with the way he played.  He’s a hard working, grinding type of forward and that’s what we were expecting, and that’s what we got.”

Logan Nelson’s 6 game goal scoring streak was stopped, but with an assist his point streak was extended to 7 games (7g 5a).  Austin Carroll 6 game point streak came to an end.  Luke Harrison has scored in back to back games, Ben Walker has 4 assists in his last 2 outings and Brett Cote a goal and assist over his last 2.

After Spokane Saturday, Victoria opens a 5 game home stand with visits from Kelowna, Red Deer and Edmonton beginning Friday October 25th.

- Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals vs Spokane Chiefs: Head To Head Stats

Description
Result
Head to Head Record 2013-14 Regular Season Victoria 0-2-0-0Spokane 2-0-0-0
Head to Head Record 2012-13 Regular Season Victoria 1-2-1-0Spokane 3-1-0-0
Last 5 Years record between teams Victoria 3-12-1-2Spokane 15-3-0-0
Victoria vs. Spokane Last 5 Years record at Victoria Victoria 1-8-1-0Spokane 9-1-0-0
Victoria vs. Spokane Last 5 Years record at Spokane Victoria 2-4-0-2Spokane 6-2-0-0
Previous Meetings This Season Spokane 6 @ Victoria 1 (Sep 25 2013) Final
Spokane 6 @ Victoria 2 (Sep 24 2013) Final

How the 2 teams match up
Spokane
Victoria
Team Record 10-2-0-0 -- 20 points 8-6-0-0 -- 16 points
Division Ranking 1st U.S. 1st B.C.
Conference Ranking 1st Western 2nd Western
League Ranking 1st 3rd
Past 10 Games 8-2-0-0 7-3-0-0
Streak 4-0-0-0 0-1-0-0
Last Game 4-2 W vs Everett (Oct 18 2013) Final 4-2 L @ Tri-City (Oct 18 2013) Final
Home Record 4-0-0-0 5-3-0-0
Away Record 6-2-0-0 3-3-0-0
GF 47  36 
GA 26  37 
PP (Overall) (13/51) 25.5 (13/68) 19.1
PP (Home) (3/14) 21.4 (9/39) 23.1
PP (Away) (10/37) 27.0 (4/29) 13.8
PK (Overall) (8/53) 84.9 (9/61) 85.2
PK (Home) (3/15) 80.0 (8/42) 81.0
PK (Away) (5/38) 86.8 (1/19) 94.7
Leading Rookie Bechtold (0-7-7) Soy (1-2-3)
Most PIM Proft - 30 Crunk - 29
Team PIM/GM 17.0/Game 17.1/Game
Leading Scorers Holmberg (16-15-31) Nelson (8-9-17)
Aviani (11-10-21) Carroll (7-4-11)
Gow (0-12-12) Hicketts (4-5-9)
Fram (1-9-10) Magee (1-8-9)
Bechtold (0-7-7) Cote (1-7-8)
Last 5 Games 4-2 W vs Everett (Oct 18 2013) Final 4-2 L @ Tri-City (Oct 18 2013) Final
5-1 W vs Swift Current (Oct 16 2013) Final 5-4 W vs Prince George (Oct 16 2013) Final
3-2 W @ Calgary (Oct 13 2013) Final SO 3-0 W vs Prince George (Oct 14 2013) Final
3-2 W @ Red Deer (Oct 12 2013) Final 4-3 W vs Lethbridge (Oct 12 2013) Final
4-1 L @ Edmonton (Oct 11 2013) Final 4-0 W vs Lethbridge (Oct 11 2013) Final
Leading After 1st 6-1-0-0 3-0-0-0
Leading After 2nd 6-1-0-0 5-0-0-0
Tied After 1st 2-0-0-0 4-1-0-0
Tied After 2nd 2-0-0-0 1-0-0-0
Trailing After 1st 2-1-0-0 1-5-0-0
Trailing After 2nd 2-1-0-0 2-6-0-0
Out Shooting Opponents 8-0-0-0 2-4-0-0
Out Shot by Opponents 2-2-0-0 3-2-0-0
1-Goal Games 4-0-0-0 5-2-0-0
2-Goal Games 1-1-0-0 1-2-0-0
3-Goal Games 1-1-0-0 1-0-0-0