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View Full Version : Victoria at Prince George 24/25 Feb



CdnSailor
02-24-2012, 10:22 AM
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k29/cdnsailor/VictoriaRoyals.gif athttp://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k29/cdnsailor/PrinceGeorgeCougars.gif

With only 12 games left for the season, Victoria is now fighting for their skating lives. Every game is crucial and with the caliber of playing that has being going on, I fear that we may not make it.
Prince George, Everett and Seattle are all in the same boat. It will come down to the wire for the last two playoff spots.
By Thurs we may have a better idea as to who will be in.

pontcanna
02-24-2012, 11:16 PM
Nice one...good to see Rathjen get his first win - he looked pretty solid and will likely be the go-to guy for the remainder of the season, win or lose.

the Royal Flush
02-24-2012, 11:46 PM
good for Rathjen...let the boy play.

CdnSailor
02-24-2012, 11:49 PM
And Everett lost as well :D

CdnSailor
02-25-2012, 01:40 AM
When the going gets tough, the plumbers get going.

Getting full value from its grinders, the Victoria Royals recorded a critical 4-2 Western Hockey League victory over the host Prince George Cougars before 1,755 fans Friday night at the CN Centre.

“Our depth players came through with a good game,” said Royals GM and head coach Marc Habscheid.

“It was really workmanlike but it was a complete effort by guys like [Luke] Harrison, [Dakota] Conroy and [Zane] Jones. They were always a threat to score.”

Habscheid added: “And kudos to Tim Traber,” citing the tenacious Royals shutdown forward, who clogged up the area just in front of the Prince George net to set up screens.

“Traber went to the net. And that middle-lane drive is not the most fun play,” noted Habscheid.

Conroy, the utility forward acquired in the trade that sent Buffalo Sabres-prospect Kevin Sundher to the Brandon Wheat Kings last month, gave Victoria a 2-1 lead at 11:30 of the second period. Austin Carroll, a gnashing forward, scored the winning goal off an assist from Jones at 17:55 of the second period.

Chase Witala brought the Cougars to within one at 2:43 of the third period. But Czech import Robin Soudek of Victoria put it away with an empty-net goal with two seconds remaining.

“The guys responded well when Prince George got some momentum going by making it 3-2,” said Habscheid.

“I thought we stemmed that pretty well and regained our game.”

Victoria captain Hayden Rintoul opened scoring — on what else — the power play at 6:12 of the first period. Say what fans will of the blueliner’s minus-33 rating, the guy is money from the point when an opponent is in the penalty box. Of Rintoul’s 15 goals on the season, 13 have been on the odd man. Goaltender Jared Rathjen drew an assist on the goal.

Veteran Greg Fraser from Nanaimo knotted matters for the Cougars at 14:23 with his 15th of the season as the opening period ended 1-1.

The win was huge for the Royals, who are in tight race for one of the final two of eight playoff berths in the Western Conference. The outcome moved Victoria alone into seventh place, two points clear of idle Seattle but the Thunderbirds hold two games in hand.

The result also pushed the Royals four points ahead of 10th-place Prince George and three points clear of the ninth-place Everett Silvertips, 4-2 losers Friday against the Americans in Tri-City. The Cougars and Silvertips each retain a game in hand on Victoria.

The Royals went with Rathjen, the usual back-up to Keith Hamilton, in the nets for the second consecutive game and the move paid off as the Prince George-native returned to his hometown a victor by making 26 saves.

“He stopped what he should have and that’s what we need,” said Habscheid, who confirmed Rathjen will again get the call tonight when the Royals and Cougars conclude their two-game set



Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Royals+grind+cats/6207567/story.html#ixzz1nNRhjKlT

the Royal Flush
02-25-2012, 10:27 AM
hopefully Rathjen will continue his run tonight...and i hope its a long run...

CdnSailor
02-25-2012, 11:26 PM
The last time Victoria won two in a row was Oct 29 against Seattle and Nov 04 against Vancouver. Congrats on you two win streak and to Rathjen for his 2nd win in a row. :clap:

pontcanna
02-26-2012, 01:01 AM
Royals come through with pressure on

BY CLEVE DHEENSAW, TIMESCOLONIST.COM FEBRUARY 25, 2012 10:46 PM

The Victoria Royals player most affected by last month's trade of Buffalo Sabres prospect Kevin Sundher to the Brandon Wheat Kings was linemate Robin Soudek, whose production trailed off noticeably after the blockbuster deal.

But the Czech import was back to his old self Saturday night with two goals, to push his season total to 25, in leading the Royals to a critical 5-3 Western Hockey League victory over the host Prince George Cougars before an all-too-familiar announced sparse crowd of 1,855 at the CN Centre.

"Obviously, Robin has missed Kevin [Sundher]. But he [Soudek] is 20 years old and should be coming through for us," said Victoria GM and head coach Marc Habscheid.

Earlier in the season, Soudek looked like he was already AHL-ECHL or European pro ready. A return to form for Soudek can't help but bode well for Royals fortunes down the line.

The win was crucial for Victoria, which is in a tight race for one of the final two of eight playoff berths in the Western Conference. The outcome kept the Royals in seventh place, two points clear of eighth-place Seattle, but the Thunderbirds hold two games in hand.

The result also pushed the Royals six points ahead of 10th-place Prince George and five points clear of the ninth-place Everett Silvertips, 3-0 losers Saturday against Seattle. The Cougars and Silvertips each retain a game in hand on Victoria.

"Beating a team on the road in both games of a doubleheader [Victoria won 4-2 on Friday] is tough to do, but we were able to do it," noted Habscheid.

"You normally look to be .500 on a road doubleheader, but we couldn't afford that. We needed all these points."

And got them.

Victoria forward Zane Jones, a force of late, had a goal and assist, while energy-forward Brandon Magee also scored for the Royals as they took a 4-1 lead into the third period and looked to have matters in hand.

But things got hairy when Prince scored twice in the first 8:30 of the third period, including a short-handed goal by Daulton Siwak, to tighten matters considerably.

"We regrouped after that. But when you have a 4-1 lead in the third period, it shouldn't get to 4-3," said Habscheid.

It wasn't over until Steven Hodges, the 55th-ranked North American skater for the 2012 NHL draft who also had an assist on the night, scored an empty-net goal for Victoria.

The Royals return to Victoria to face the Spokane Chiefs on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"It's a long bus ride home, but there's no rest now in the home stretch," said Habscheid.

the Royal Flush
02-26-2012, 10:54 AM
let it ride...Rathjen goes next Tuesday as well...

fatshad
02-26-2012, 10:24 PM
let it ride...Rathjen goes next Tuesday as well...

Good to see Rathjen and the so called grinders contribute in a big way !! Crooks , Nelson , Soudek cannot be expected to score every game !! It is playoff hockey for the Royals now !! The grinders are huge !! :) Go Royals Go:clap::clap::clap:

rednex50
02-27-2012, 03:07 AM
It'll be interesting if the Royals can do what I thought they couldn't...make the playoffs.

Currently sitting in 7th with 46 pts in 62 games (10 games remaining), and a 3-6-0-1 record over its previous 10 games - if they play out the final 10 the same, they'll have 53

Seattle sits 8th with 44pts in 61 games (11 remaining) and using their previous 10 as an indication 3-7-0-0 means they too could finish around 51 to 53 points. - could bump Victoria with more games won if they were tied.

Everett in 9th with 43 pts in 62 games (10 remaining) if doing the same as previous 10, 5-5-0-0, could also end up with 53 points, but would lose the tie break to both Victoria and Seattle as both would have more wins than Everett.

Prince George, 40 points in 61 games (11 remaining) coming off a 3-7-0-0 previous 10 would need to win at least 8 of those games to have a chance to leap frog at least 2 teams to make it...not mathematically out...but not far from it.

This weekend sweep in PG might have secured Victoria a playoff berth...just not sure what the chances are for success against either opponent (T.C or Kamsoup) I don't think much chances at all.