Patrik Polivka continues to be the Prince George Cougars' kryptonite.
The Victoria Royals goaltender posted his second shutout of the season against the Cougars (third overall) in a matinee Western Hockey League game at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena on Thanksgiving Monday in front of an announced crowd of 3,655 in Victoria as the Royals produced a 3-0 win. The 19-year-old is 7-0 in two seasons against the Cougars and has blanked them three times including a 2-0 win Oct. 2 in Prince George.
In the two games this season Polivka has stopped all 52 shots the Cougars have sent his way, including all 22 in Monday's game. The Royals beat Cougars' goalie Brett Zarowny twice in the first period - an early marker by the red-hot Buffalo Sabres prospect Logan Nelson on a perfect shot off a two-on-one break and then during a power play in the final minute Austin Carroll was able to push the puck into the net from a scramble in the crease. Nelson added an empty-net goal to complete the scoring for his third point of the game.
Cougars assistant coach Jason Becker said he doesn't believe his troops tested Polivka enough, especially during three second period power plays.
"We need to be hungrier to get in front of the net," said Becker. "I don't think our forwards did a good job tonight getting to the net to create traffic in front of Polivka. We didn't go into the dirty areas or into the slot area as often as we needed to."
The Cougars were 0-for-4 with the man advantage, while the Royals were 1-for-5.
The lone bright spot for the Cougars was the play of Zarowny, making his first start since Sept. 27. Zarowny struggled in his first three starts this season giving up 14 goals, but he was solid in his return between the pipes, stopping 28 of 30 shots.
"He did a great job tonight and gave us a good opportunity to win," said Becker. "We didn't get the result we wanted, but I hope the game builds his confidence because he's worked hard in practice and was supportive Ty Edmonds during his run."
Nelson's three points added to his hot streak in October. Since the 20-year-old was shutout in two games against the Cougars in Prince George, he's put up six goals and four assists this month, giving him seven goals and 15 points overall.
All three games the Cougars and Royals have played this season have featured a shutout, including a 1-0 win by Prince George on Oct. 1, which was Edmonds first WHL shutout.
The win moved the Royals (7-5-0) into first place in the B.C. division of the Western conference, while the loss saw the Cougars (5-5-0-1) slip back to .500. The two teams face off again Wednesday night in Victoria as the Cougars continue their four-game road trip, which takes them to Seattle on Friday and Kelowana on Saturday.
* Today is the WHL deadline for teams to reduce their rosters to three 20-year-old players. The Cougars only have two overage players with forward Klarc Wilson and defenceman Peter Kosterman on the current roster.
