DUBNetwork Game of the Night: Vancouver Giants (31-21-3-2) @ Victoria Royals (30-22-5-2) 7:05 PM
The Victoria Royals will be looking to snap their slide against the Giants, having lost the last four in-a row against their nearest rivals. Both teams have 67 points, Vancouver has two games in hand as the teams head to the playoffs.
Vancouver is the story of the second half, climbing from mediocrity to second in the BC Division, just nine points behind the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers were the talk of the first half with a strong team out of the gate.
A trio of Royals: Gary Haden, Tarun Fizer, and Phillip Schultz, have two goals each against the Giants this season.
It is the Giants though who have piled up the points in recent contests between the two teams. Justin Sourdif has eight points on four goals and four assists. Eric Florchuk has four goals and two assists and Bowen Byram has two goals and three assists through eight games.
Speaking of Florchuk he is riding a 14-game point streak, scoring five goals and adding 18 assists. It is the WHL’s fifth-longest point streak this season. Bowen Byram is also riding a hot streak with points in 12 straight games, he has eight goals and 16 assists in that time.
Tristen Nielsen leads the Giants in points this season. He has 28 goals and 32 assists in 56 games. He also has a goal and two assists against the Royals.
Brayden Tracey is the leading scorer this season for the Royals after coming over in a deal with Moose Jaw. Overall this season he has 19 goals and 36 assists, of which four goals and 13 assists have come in his 19 games with the Royals.
With Shane Farkas still sidelined, Adam Evanoff has been given the reigns between the pipes. With the teams in the middle game of a three games in three nights set, don’t be surprised to see 17-year-old Connor Martin get some time in the crease. He’s 0-1-0-1 this season with a 2.42 goals-against average and .926 save percentage.
Vancouver has two very capable netminders in Trent Miner and David Tendeck. Last night Miner secured an 18-save shutout. He is now 13-8-2-1 with a 2.60 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. Tendeck is out day-to-day with an injury, requiring Braedy Euerby to be called up s back up.
Vancouver’s power play was anemic in the first half of the season and has been incredible in the last dozen or so games. They are now a respectable 11th in the WHL with a 21.3% success rate. Three spots ahead is the Royals power play with a 22.2% success rate. Both teams are in the top half when it comes to the penalty kill, Victoria is seventh at 80.9%, Vancouver is ninth at 80.0%.
As always you can catch the night’s action on WHL Live.
If you are the type who likes to tune in online or on the radio the voice of the Victoria Royals Marlon Martens can be tuned in on 91.3 FM the ZONE or listen into Dan O’Connor, the voice of the Vancouver Giants on Sportsnet 650.
In other WHL action (all times local):
Saskatoon Blades (31-22-2-3) @ Prince Albert Raiders (32-17-5-4) 7:00 PM
Saskatoon continued its dominant season over Prince Albert with a 4-2 win last night. The win gave the Blades a 6-1-0-0 record over the Raiders in 2019-2020. The win also moved the Blades magic number to three points to clinch a playoff spot. Prince Albert’s lead over the Brandon Wheat Kings for the East Division crown shrunk to just one point. Just seven points separate the two clubs in the race for first.
Moose Jaw Warriors (13-29-4-0) @ Swift Current Broncos (10-44-1-3) 7:00 PM
The teams switch cities following Moose Jaw’s 6-2 home-ice win. The loss gave the Broncos a-game losing streak. The win last night also featured a goalie fight. Moose Jaw now leads the season series 3-2-0-0.
Brandon Wheat Kings (33-21-4-2) @ Lethbridge Hurricanes (36-15-2-5) 7:00 PM
Depending on how things go tonight, the Brandon Wheat Kings may find themselves leading the East Division for the first time this season. They have points in three straight games. Lethbridge has won back-to-back games and is 11 points back of the Edmonton Oil Kings for the Central Division lead. The Hurricanes have taken the win in all three previous meetings between the teams.
Edmonton Oil Kings (40-10-6-4) @ Red Deer Rebels (22-31-2-3) 7:00 PM
The Oil Kings are riding an 11-game win streak against the Rebels, including six straight this season. The last Rebels win against Edmonton came on December 29th, 2018 in a shootout at home. Edmonton leads the Central Division by 11 points, Red Deer is 18 points behind the Saskatoon Blades for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 10 games remaining.
Portland Winterhawks (41-10-3-4) @ Seattle Thunderbirds (23-29-4-3) 6:05 PM
The last time these two teams met, the Thunderbirds eked out a 3-2 win. The win made the season series incredibly closer than many would think, the Thunderbirds moved to 4-4-0-1, the Winterhawks to 5-1-0-3. The Thunderbirds remain ahead of the Cougars for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the gap is 11 points. Portland is continuing to try to hold off Everett in the US Division battle for the banner. The lead is one point with 10 games to play apiece.
Regina Pats (20-32-4-2) @ Medicine Hat Tigers (36-19-2-1) 7:30 PM
Medicine Hat walked into Regina and pumped the Pats for eight goals. The win gave the Tigers a little bit of space for third in the Central Division. Their lead over Calgary is now two points. They trail Lethbridge by four points for second. Regina is officially eliminated from playoff contention. Medicine Hat last lost to Regina on March 6, 2018, a span of seven games.
Prince George Cougars (17-33-4-4) @ Kamloops Blazers (36-17-3-1) 7:00 PM
The Blazers looked back on track against the Cougars last night, securing a 6-1 victory. The teams swap cities for a battle in Kamloops, the Blazers are 21-6-0-1 on home ice this season. Both teams have three regulation wins in the season series and will close out the season with a double-dip in Kamloops.
Kelowna Rockets (27-26-3-3) @ Everett Silvertips (42-12-3-1) 7:05 PM
With the Rockets looking strong in their last handful of games, they swiped a point from the Silvertips last night in Kelowna. The teams shift to Everett with the Silvertips holding onto an eight-game winning streak. They are just one point back of Portland for the US Division lead. Everett is 2-1-0-0 against the Memorial Cup hosts this season, Kelowna is 1-1-1-0.
Tri-City Americans (17-36-4-1) @ Spokane Chiefs (36-18-4-1) 7:05 PM
Spokane gave Seattle everything they could handle last night, a nine-goal effort including eight points from Ty Smith. Tri-City is last in the Western Conference, they have lost four straight. Spokane is 7-1-1-0 against Tri-City this season.
