The Western Conference sixth-seed Victoria Royals are almost certain to meet the third seed — either the Kamloops Blazers or Kelowna Rockets — in the first round of the playoffs.
These potential playoff combatants can get some scouting work done when the Royals (32-26-6) visit Kamloops (44-18-5) tonight and Kelowna (46-16-4) on Wednesday.
“Obviously, there are [playoff matchup notes to consider], but first and foremost for us, this is about winning a game,” said Victoria head coach Dave Lowry.
The Royals haven’t been doing much of that lately, going 0-7-2 in a nine-game winless slide.
“Our primary focus is to make our game solid. We’ve had some bad bounces [over the last nine games] but let’s not kid ourselves. We need to correct some things regarding the types of goals we’ve allowed. And [at the other end], we need secondary scoring. We can’t have the same guys scoring night after night.”
The Royals have been hampered by having five forwards out with injuries and now blueliner and captain Tyler Stahl can be added to that list. Stahl was injured in Saturday night’s 3-2 loss to the Spokane Chiefs and he will not make the trip to the Interior.
The only glimmer of a return from the ranks of the injured rests with forward Taylor Crunk, who will be a game-time decision tonight.
The Royals have eight regular-season games remaining.
Meanwhile, the Royals will not meet the Blazers or Rockets at their regular Memorial Centre home during the first round of the playoffs unless they want to skate over pebbled ice. Because of the world men’s curling championship taking place in the Blanshard Street facility, the Royals first-round home playoff games will be at Bear Mountain Arena.
“We are prepared to play at Bear Mountain,” said Royals president Dave Dakers. “It will be a small venue, sold-out environment and should be fun.”
The only way the Bear Mountain scenario can be avoided is if the Blazers or Rockets — who will hold home-ice advantage and would normally host the first two games — agree to start the first two games in Victoria and hold the next three in their rink in a 2-3-1-1 format.
The first two games of the series, if held in Victoria, could take place at the Memorial Centre before the world curling moves in.
Royals GM Cam Hope confirmed he will approach the Blazers and Rockets with that proposal.
