Playoff Preview

Victoria was 10 over .500 and battling for third in the West on January 1^st, but have had a rough go with injuries, as at times up to 7 skaters were down, unable to dress a full line up even with affiliates called up. Many games were played with 4 freshmen on defense.

The Royals scratched a clawed their way through the last two and half months, but found themselvess slipping down the ranks, finishing the season 1 game under .500 with a record of (29-30-5-4, 67pts).

However things have been looking up recently, as the club saw a pair of veteran defenceman return to the line up after being shelved for an extended period of time, in Nate Misskey and Austin Zemlak, however they still have 4 players in the infirmary, Robin Sapousek, Ryan Spizawka, Hudson Bjornson and Alex Edwards.

Misskey was 7^th in defenceman scoring in the league before missing 24 games due to injury. Zemlak brings the hardest shot on the club, along with physicality and shot blocking, and the two are a pairing.

“We’re a little healthier. Now, we’re going to get more contributions from our back end. If we can get some depth scoring, that can make a difference.” added Patrick.

The Winterhawks roll in without a single injury to report.

In the season series, Victoria lost all four games, however twice took Portland to extra innings in enemy territory. Most recently settling for a 5-4 loss on March 2^nd. Combined in the four games, the Winterhawks out scored the Royals by a margin on 20-11.

“We’ve played some real close games with them this year. We’ve had 2 overtime games and they’re a very good team. I would call them one of the elite teams in the league.” said Royals Head Coach James Patrick, who felt they had success in Oregon, when the team defended well.

Portland is the most veteran group in the league, with over half of the club 19 years old or younger, with the third most games played experience, compared to a younger Victoria squad who have the fourth fewest games played overall.

The Winterhawks boast 7 NHL drafted or signed skaters, as recently James Sefan was added to the list signing a 3 year entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers. Portland added pieces this year to bolster their line up, including Detroit Red Wings first round pick Nate Danielson, and Krakken drafted defenceman Tyson Jugnauth, which brings them to a total of 4 NHL drafted skaters on the back end.

“Those guys are the core of our team,” said GM and Head Coach Mike Johnson during a Portland television talk show, regarding his defenceman,

“They are the back bone of our group.”

Victoria has Justin Kipkie, Arizona Coyotes 5^th round pick as their only NHL drafted player.

Patrick feels the Winterhawks defense are the most mobile in the whole league.

“Their defense can skate, (Luca) Cagnoni, (Tyson) Jugnauth, all those guys, I can go down the list. They all you could say, are close to an elite level but they are top guys.

“They create, they’re so involved when they get possession of the offensive zone, their defenceman are so involved. Their lateral mobility along the blue line really possess challenges. So you have to defend, you have to be in shot lanes, but you have to defend in the defensive zone.”

Patrick believes the Winterhawks strengths are that they play the quickest transition game, going from defense to offense faster than any team in the league, and their mobility starting with their back end, when they do get in the offensive zone.

“So recognizing that we can’t turn over easy pucks, whether it’s on the entry or when we have the puck in the offensive zone, our third man has to be in a good position and then it’s going to take five guys to defend…know your responsibility and play it as well as you can.

“In the games we’ve played close against them, we ended up holding on to pucks, not turning over easy pucks in the offensive zone, and that’s a big key.”

Portland, who are ranked 5^th in the CHL Top 10, led the entire league in goals scored, along with putting up the most shots on goal per game. They are led by Captain Gabe Klassen with 106 points, followed by Stefan with 101 points, including 50 goals. Cagnoni was the first defenceman to score 90 points in 30 years in the WHL.

“We play an uptempo style, play with pace, and tend to be a little more offensive group.” said Johnson.

The ‘Hawks power play is 4^th most efficient, and penalty kill is 6^th, while the Royals are 13^th overall in both categories. In the season series Victoria killed off 12 of 13 Portland man advantages.

“It’s huge.” said Patrick when asked about the importance of special teams in the post season,

“It’s more so your penalty killing. I’ve always found, and have seen teams win without great power play numbers, but if your penalty killing is not as good as it can be, not near the top you usually don’t have success.”

Your number one penalty killer is your goaltender, and Victoria has a good one in overage Braden Holt, who brings playoff experience from his time in Everett.

“It’s a lot of games in a short amount of time. You have to take it shift by shift and game by game, period by period, and just come in waves.” said Holt, when asked what advice he would give the other players.

“Consistency is huge…and you have to take care of your body with rest and sleep as well.”

Portland has their number one netminder back in the line up after dealing with a lengthy injury in Jan Spunar, 19, from Czechia. The 6’3, 198 goalie has a 2.66 goals against average against Victoria and an underwhelming save percentage of 0.860 in three starts versus the Royals.

While the Royals only have four players with playoff experience, it comes with their veterans, including Tyson Laventure, Ben Riche and defenceman Jaren Brinson. The rest of the club including overage forward Dawson Pasternak, will rely on their enthusiasm and excitement, for something that’s been a long time coming.

“It is a little different, the intensity, the sacrifice, the courage, the buy in are all ramped up, and we’re going to need all that.” added Patrick,

“We’re going need our whole lineup contributing. And as far as how we match up, we’re going to have to be at the top of our game to be successful.”

Patrick can draw on 117 NHL playoff games for experience, and knows what it takes to have success.

“It took everyone, it took your guys who aren’t even dressed in the first games. It took your top line playing as good as they can, coming through with making plays or neutralizing the other lines, the other team’s top lines, but it also took your 3rd and 4th lines.”

Royals rookie Cole Reschny plays center and is going to be pitted against formidable opposition, as his line with Pasternak and Laventure have been the primary source of scoring for Victoria down the stretch. Reschny has been resilient while continuing to learn the role and grow, and finished 5^th in overall rookie scoring.

“They might have to be the best checking line on our team.” replied Patrick in regards to Reschny’s line,

“I mean that because they’re going to be matched against one of their top two lines, but no matter who it is they’re going to be playing against top end offensive guys. If they can do as good a job of neutralizing, and then see what they can do on the power play, it might be that type of game.”

The ‘Hawks are deep through their top three lines, and without Sapousek the Royals top 200 foot centerman, players like Casper Haugen-Evensen, who have really emerged over the last few months, will all need to step up, especially on the road when you don’t get to match lines.

“Always, it takes the depth needed. I’m talking you need four lines. You get injuries because the intensity is ramped up, and someone has to step up and fill in, take that opportunity and run with it.” mentioned Patrick,

“Usually there’s unsung heroes, usually there’s some guys who come from nowhere to become playoff heroes.”

Victoria is heading into hostile territory in Portland who have a passionate and boisterous fan base, helping their team to just 6 regulation losses in 34 home games this season. The playoff format however, is 2-3-2, so the Royals could play three straight on the Island if necessary, done so to mitigate travel expenses.

Getting the road split on opening weekend is paramount for the Royals to take full advantage of the schedule.

“If you can steal one…we’re only focused on game one. Having 3 at home could definitely be to our advantage. It could be, but that means nothing if we don’t take care of our business first.

Victoria will also have to contend with the hot starts that Portland has been notorious for, scoring the opening goal of the game 44 times, which is second most in the league. And against a team with as much fire power and speed, you won’t want to be playing catch up and which leads to river hockey.

“It is a huge factor and for me that’s focus. Sometimes it’s an issue with young players. You’d like to think with the preparation and the intensity, the excitement and the adrenaline that you’d be ready right off the bat. It’s tough to play some of these top teams when you’re chasing the game and you get behind it…so that’s certainly something we want to be aware of.”

There’s certainly no surprises when facing a Mike Johnson coached team, the pace, the speed and the offense needs to be contended with.

“You need to defend. I’ve never seen a team have success in the playoffs if they do not defend. You have to block shots, you have to hit and you have to take hits. And that’s all part of a sacrifice.

With some pieces returned to the line up, the Royals will look to regain their form which brought them success in the first half of the season, and have the right frame of mind.

“You have to have a team first attitude, to a man on your team. Nothing is about the individual, whether it’s the role you play the ice time, who gets the points or the goals, it’s all about team first.”

Puck drop Friday at 7pm, and Saturday at 6pm from Portland.

by Marlon Martens

Playoff Preview

“We’re excited to play against them and about being in the playoffs. We’re just trying to focus on getting ready to play as good as we can play our system and play playoff hockey.” – HC James Patrick

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