Down the Stretch: What the Royals Need to Finish Strong

With six games left to go in the regular season culminating in a division-deciding duo of disputes against the Prince George Cougars, the next two weeks are a critical opportunity to build some strong momentum ahead of the first round of playoffs. What should Royals fans expect in the coming matchups, and how can the Royals capture that coveted red banner?

Climbing the Beanstalk

The Royals will face off against the Vancouver Giants on March 14th for their last home game of the season, and again on the 15th. Victoria has a record of 4-0-0-2 against the Giants this season, so this looks like a favourable matchup for the Royals. The Giants' only wins over Victoria this year have been as a result of a shootout, so a strong start will be crucial to end things in regulation. Even with a power play as potent as the Royals', the Giants penalty kill has proven to be adept at punishing mistakes, with Tyler Thorpe leading the league in shorthanded goals this season. These two games against the giants will be crucial to gain some points at the beginning of the road trip.

Blaze of Glory

The Royals will then face the Kamloops Blazers on March 18th. One of the struggling B.C. teams this year, the Blazers have won three out of seven games against the Royals this season. A speedy team with weak defense, Kamloops has the second-least goals for in the Western Conference, as well as the second-most goals against. Despite struggling at even strength, the Blazers power play is a surprising powerhouse, with Jordan Keller holding a commanding lead for the most power play goals this season. The Royals will need to play smart and stay out of the box to avoid being forced to weather the storm on the penalty kill.

Ready for Launch

The Kelowna Rockets are dead last in the Western Conference, and have 46 losses and only 17 wins this season, including currently being on a seven-game loss streak. You may remember them as the team that the Royals lit up with a franchise-record 11 goals in one game back in January. Despite the apparent mismatch, the Royals must avoid overconfidence entering this one. Victoria has been punished for this earlier in the season, and the best course of action will be to play smart hockey and look for opportunity to let their explosive offence do its job. Every point counts as we approach the end of the season.

The Finale

The regular season will culminate with two games in Prince George against the Cougars. The Royals are tied with the Cougars as of right now, at 82 points each. However, the Royals have played two less games. Prince George will be playing Wenatchee as the Royals square off with Vancouver, so the previously mentioned B.C. road trip will be critical to stack up some extra points before the showdown in PG. If Victoria can come out on top and win the B.C. Division, they will earn a more favourable first round matchup in the playoffs. Can they defeat the Cougars and win the division for the second time in franchise history? It will all come down to the wire in Prince George on March 21st and 22nd.