The defence never rests is an old adage in both jurisprudence and sports. The Victoria Royals literally lived it Wednesday night in Portland with a 4-2 Western Hockey League victory over the Winterhawks.
Victoria鈥檚 compromised blue line, already missing Los Angeles Kings-signed Chaz Reddekopp with injury and Kade Jensen to suspension, was further depleted by the absence of Mitchell Prowse to illness.
Bearing down on the Victoria defence was a potent Winterhawks offence led by Las Vegas Golden Knights prospect Cody Glass, the sixth player selected overall in the 2017 NHL draft. But the Royals held firm in moving to 26-16-4.
鈥淥ur young defencemen really stepped up tonight and they kept it simple with solid, fundamental hockey,鈥� said Victoria head coach Dan Price.
The Royals have won five of their last six games. But three of those victories were over the Kamloops Blazers, who are last in the Western Conference. The win over the Winterhawks (26-14-4) was much more impressive.
It was backed by a depleted Victoria defence that had allowed 22 goals in the last four games. That was with Reddekopp, Jensen and Prowse in the lineup.
The defensive performance Wednesday came with help from up front.
鈥淥ur forwards did a great job of tracking back and supporting our defencemen,鈥� said Price.
Tyler Soy鈥檚 20th goal of the season put Victoria ahead short-handed at 8:28 of the first period before Skyler McKenzie鈥檚 34th tied it for Portland less than a minute later on the power play.
Rookie defenceman Matthew Smith put the Royals ahead 2-1 at 15:06 of the second period on a pass from Matthew Phillips.
But Portland鈥檚 top-end talent was never more evident than on the power play for the 2-2 tying goal at 7:21 of the third period. Glass scored on an assist from defenceman Dennis Cholowski, who is a 2016 first-round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings.
But Tanner Kaspick pulled Victoria back into the lead at 11:14.
Calgary Flames-signed Phillips, who also had had two assists on the night, made it 4-2 at 12:02.
Griffen Outhouse made 28 saves in goal for Victoria, while Cole Kehler blocked 29 shots for Portland.
The Royals are in Langley on Friday night to play the Giants.
