Who knew there was a chat room for Buffalo Sabres prospects?
Victoria Royals forward Logan Nelson, a 2012 fifth-round draft pick of the NHL club, sometimes goes on it to join the cross-talk. Asked if the firing this week of Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff was much discussed, Nelson pointed out the often-harsh bottom-line nature of hockey at this level: Ruff is now irrelevant to the prospects since he won’t be there if any make the jump to join the organization.
What matters is the here and now. For Nelson, that’s to keep improving at the Western Hockey League level with the next chance being tonight and Saturday against the Kelowna Rockets at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
The native of Minnesota has been back only three games after missing 22 consecutive following a lower-body injury Dec. 28 that put him on crutches. He has been part of the Royals’ evolving injury situation.
Nelson and goaltender Patrik Polivka, who missed the last two games because of a lower-body tweak, were going full speed in practice Thursday, while captain Tyler Stahl and leading-scorer Alex Gogolev (both lower body) did not skate and likely will not play this weekend. Forward Trent Lofthouse skated but is likely also out against the Rockets.
“It was different [being at game speed again] after being the only one on the ice [skating alone during his healing process],” said Nelson. “But [Royals training staff got] me back to [playing] level. You forget how big and strong these guys are in the league.”
Having Nelson hitting his stride again will be a crucial element for the sixth-place Royals (32-22-5), who are one point behind the fifth-place Spokane Chiefs with a game in hand and two points adrift of the fourth-place Tri-City Americans in the Western Conference.
They also need a healthy Polivka in the nets.
“I’m good. I’m ready to play,” said the Czech import.
The Royals lost their last two games with rookie back-up Coleman Vollrath starting, although those contests were at the tail end of a six-game road trip against Calgary and Edmonton — the teams with the two-best records in the Eastern Conference
“We’re so happy to be home,” said Polivka. “That was a long trip. But we saw we have to work hard every game. If not, we won’t win.”
Both Victoria, winless in its last four games at 0-3-1, and Kelowna, winner of only two of its last seven games, will be trying to tilt trends this weekend. The Western Conference second-place Rockets (42-15-4), however, are at another level in the standings.
“They [Rockets] have depth and balance and come after you with the same attack shift after shift,” said Victoria head coach Dave Lowry.
