 
VS
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5-13-0-2
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Record
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6-12-0-2
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43
(17th)
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Goals
For
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46
(16th)
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83
(15th)
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Goals
Against
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62
(8th)
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19.45%
(8th)
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Power
Play
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11.70%
(17th)
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74.19%
(16th)
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Penalty
Kill
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87.18%
(2nd)
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Venue: The Q
Centre
Game Time: 2pm
Last Year’s Matchup:
Season Series: Grizzlies had a 2-1 win in overtime against PG back at the
ShowCase
Game Overview:
The last time the Spruce Kings took on the Victoria Grizzlies they had
just come off their first win of the season, and Victoria was searching for
their first of the season. The Grizzles would score in the first, and hold that
lead until Corey Hoffman scored late in the third to tie the game and send it
to overtime. Then with under a minute left of three on three hockey, Kevin
Massy scored to take the win. Since then both team have gotten some more wins
under their belt, and will look to faceoff in Victoria. The Grizzlies are
riding a three game winning streak, and Prince George needs a win to gain
ground on the Coquitlam Express. The Spruce Kings lost narrowly in overtime
last night, but vastly improved from their game the night before against Powell
River.
Victoria Home Record: 5-3-0-2
Grizzlies Leading Scorer: Brayden Gelsinger 3 goals, 16 assists, 19 points
Prince George Road Record: 2-7-0-2
Spruce Kings Leading Scorer: Corey Hoffman 6 goals, 11 assists, 17 points
Player to watch:
Spruce Kings: The last time Corey Hoffman went four games without
a goal, he broke the drought against the Victoria Grizzlies. The forward looked
much better in last nights matchup against the Bulldogs, and will look to build
off that effort. Since the lines were jumbled up against Wenatchee last week,
Hoffman and Epp have stuck together, but have cycled through wingers. The line
of those two and Johnson was big in the two weekends on the road against
Interior teams, and will need to come up big if PG wants to find a win in this
game. Last night against Alberni Valley, Bryan Basilico scored a beauty
to tie the game at three in the third. It was the forwards fifth goal of the
season, and second at even strength. The power forward has been deadly while on
the man advantage this year, and with the Spruce Kings breaking their PP
scoring drought last night, look for Basilico to try and open the floodgates.
Grizzlies: The last time these two teams met, Kevin Massy played
hero by scoring the overtime goal. He’s sixth in team scoring, and will look to
add to that total against a team he likely has some confidence against. He was
traded to the Saskatchewan Junior hockey league first, and then over to the
Swan Valley Stampeders in Manitoba. Luc Soares has found his way back to
the BCHL though, and is now a member of the Grizzlies. In six games with PG the
speedy forward was held off the scoresheet, and in seven games with Victoria he
has one assist.
In the Standings:
Victoria started the
season 3-12-0-2, but have bounced back with three consecutive wins. They are still
last in the Island division, but that also has to do with the improved play if
Alberni Valley who is just ahead of them. The Grizzlies currently sit four
points back of the Bulldogs, and following this afternoon game, Alberni will
have two games in hand.
Thanks to a Coquitlam
Loss last night, the Spruce Kings inched closer to that coveted 4th
place with their tie, and now sit five points back. After Prince George plays
Victoria, Coquitlam will have a game in hand, so a win for Prince George would
be huge, and could bring them within three points of the Express.
Special Teams Battle:
The two teams have total
opposites for their two special teams units. In 20 games the Grizzlies have
only allowed 8 power play goals, and have the second best PK unit behind only
the Penticton Vees. Their man advantage on the other hand has been a point of
weakness, and is second last in the BCHL.
Prince George was shutout
in three straight games on the power play, but not have scored in two straight games,
both slapshots from Jake LeBrun. The Spruce Kings are 8th in the
league on the man advantage, but are 16th on the penalty kill. A
game against a weaker power play though could boost those numbers though, and
push them past Alberni Valley who is just 1% ahead.
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