With thanks to Dr. Seuss' Oh the Places You'll Go

B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e in a slump, youB次元官网网址檙e not in for much fun, for un-slumping yourself is not easily done.B次元官网网址�

Wise words to be sure, but little did Dr. Seuss predict a predicament as un-fun as the Victoria Royals recent stretch.

Be it one win or none in the last five or six, the Royals are still in the playoff mix. The Royals visit the Kelowna Rockets on Friday (Dec. 2) and Kamloops Blazers on Saturday.

Things could be better. No team in the WHL has surrendered as many goals as the Royals though many have scored less.

TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 4-3 loss to the Blazers left the Royals on a most prickle-ly perch.

Five games without a budge in the win column. The eighth and final playoff spot is still the RoyalsB次元官网网址� to lose, but itB次元官网网址檚 the kind of scenario the Bruins, er... Royals, were hoping to avoid after starting over again in Victoria.

Jamie Crooks scored twice on Tuesday and could have emerged from the dressing room a little less depressed after the game. He could have said it was frustrating.

But he didnB次元官网网址檛.

B次元官网网址淲e had a few lulls in the game and thatB次元官网网址檚 when they scored,B次元官网网址� Crooks said.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to work hard. I feel weB次元官网网址檙e coming out of this.B次元官网网址�

ThereB次元官网网址檚 no reason not to believe Crooks. His team was right there, playing B次元官网网址檛il the end.

ItB次元官网网址檚 more stormy weather than it is weathering a storm.

Or, as Seuss put it, B次元官网网址淕ames you canB次元官网网址檛 win B次元官网网址檆ause theyB次元官网网址檒l play against you.B次元官网网址�

The Royals could have won Tuesday just as they could have during SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 6-5 loss in Kelowna. In that game, the Royals actually scored on a late surge, but it was a fraction of a second too late as the final buzzer had sounded.

Likewise on Tuesday, the Blazers scored against the flow B次元官网网址� twice B次元官网网址� while the Royals ended the game with a dominating effort, controlling the puck during a 6-on-4 advantage with the powerplay and goalie pulled for the extra attacker. But the puck had other thoughts.

The Royals didnB次元官网网址檛 win because sometimes you wonB次元官网网址檛. Nor should the Royals stew. Because bang-ups and hang-ups will happen to the Blazers too. With their helmets full of brains and their skates full of feet (speedy ones, that is), the Royals are too smart to extend this not-so-good streak.

The fans will be there again when Western conference leaders Tri-City (19-6) visit Tuesday (Dec. 6) and Wednesday.

So be your name Hamilton, Sundher or Crooks, enjoy your time in the B次元官网网址楧ub.B次元官网网址� YouB次元官网网址檙e off to great places B次元官网网址� like Kelowna Friday.

Tuesday results: Kamloops Blazers 4 Victoria Royals 3

The Royals are right back at it for Wednesday night with another shot at the Blazers, who move to 17-7-1 in second place in the B.C. division while the Royals sit on 23 points, tied with the  for third/fourth.

Tuesday was yet another night of bad bounces as the Royals dropped a 4-3 decision to the Blazers at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 frustrating,B次元官网网址� said coach and general manager Marc Habscheid. B次元官网网址淲e played a pretty good game. The bounces didnB次元官网网址檛 go our way.B次元官网网址�

Logan Nelson scored his 12th of the year with four minutes left to cut the lead to 4-3.

The Royals ended the game on the powerplay and with the goalie pulled for a 6-on-4 attack, during which the Royals dominated with several chances but were unable to convert any past Cheveldave.