Today’s Gameday Preview: Friday February 8th, 2019

DUBNetwork Feature game of the night: Royals @ Chiefs 7:05 PM PST

The Victoria Royals are looking to win their second game in a row, as are the Spokane Chiefs when the two teams face off in their third meeting of the season tonight. Spokane is playing tonight at home where they’ve only lost six games in regulation this season. Victoria, a sub .500 team on the road is looking to start some new momentum for a team that has struggled a tad of late.

The Victoria Royals (26-21-1-2) are coming off a mid-week double-header against the Seattle Thunderbirds that saw them lose one, and win one. The team is probably thankful there’s no team hot on their heels, the Royals are in second place in the BC Division with 55 points to their name this season. Put those points in the eastern conference and the Royals wouldn’t even be sitting in a playoff spot.

Andrei Pavlenko-Scott Walford

Coquitlam-native Scott Walford was a big part of the offense in those mid-week games, racking up five assists between the two games. Stats show throughout the season, spurts from Walford aren’t rare, those spurts have been the story of his season so far, putting up some impressive numbers in a short stint of games then falling quiet before coming alive again. The big picture looks good on the other hand, the Montreal Canadiens third rounder has already beaten his career high point total from last season. Tonight will tell if Walford can stay hot, or fall victim to the outside temperatures and cool off.

The Spokane Chiefs (27-17-2-4) sit three points up on the Tri-City Americans for the third spot in the US Division after winning in Kelowna on Wednesday. The Chiefs picked up their third win in their last four games all thanks to an offense that seems to be firing on all cylinders right now. The Chiefs have 21 goals in those most recent four games, compared to Victoria who have 14 in the category that’s a significant figure.

Luke Toporowski (Photo: spokanechiefs.com)

One of Spokane’s young stars Luke Toporowski is just fresh off his first multi-goal game of his career on Wednesday. The 2001-born has already crushed his point tally from last season, and knocked off the goals and assists categories in the process. Though streaky at this point in his career, the former first round pick is surely on the right path to being a key player for the Chiefs.

Expected in goal:

  • Griffen Outhouse (VIC) 2.628 GAA, .916 SV%- In two starts vs. Spokane this season, Outhouse has allowed 10 goals, 5 in each game against the Chiefs.
  • Bailey Brkin (SPO) 2.795 GAA, .913 SV%- Despite notching good number backstopping the Chiefs, Brkin has only won one of his last four starts.

Other games of note:

Swift Current Broncos (10-37-2-1) @ Brandon Wheat Kings (22-21-3-4)

  • Who’s losing streak ends tonight? Brandon has lost two in a row, Swift looking for their first win in three games.

Prince Albert Raiders (43-7-0-2) @ Calgary Hitmen (27-19-4-1)

  • Another day, another Hitmen game in the Corral, Calgary is 1-0-1-0 in the historic venue coming into tonight.

Moose Jaw Warriors (28-13-6-2) @ Lethbridge Hurricanes (27-15-4-5)

  • Moose Jaw leads the season series by two coming into this meeting, both games 3-2 decisions this season.

Regina Pats (14-36-1-2) @ Red Deer Rebels (28-18-2-1)

  • Red Deer has another chance to snap out of their little skid tonight, the Rebels are tied at 59 points with the Calgary Hitmen for the first Wild Card spot in the East.

Vancouver Giants (35-13-2-1) @ Kamloops Blazers (20-25-4-1)

  • Heading into meeting number 5 for these clubs, Vancouver has won all four previous meetings.

Prince George Cougars (16-30-4-2) @ Kelowna Rockets (21-26-4-1)

  • The Cougars are trying to hit the reset button after firing Head Coach Richard Matvichuk on Thursday, the Cougars lead the season series vs. Kelowna by 6-2 margin.

Portland Winterhawks (32-15-3-2) @ Seattle Thunderbirds (20-25-5-1)

  • Portland 7-3-0-0 in their last ten, trying to creep up on the Everett Silvertips for first place in the US Division.

Kootenay Ice (11-33-7-1) @ Tri-City Americans (27-19-2-1)

  • First meeting of the season between the teams, TC riding a two game mini win streak looking to make up ground on Spokane for third in the US Division.