Its hockey team鈥檚 mantra at the moment could be an oldie but a goldie: 鈥淜eep on Truckin鈥�.鈥�
The host Winterhawks defeated the Victoria Royals 4-2 to indeed make it a Black Friday for Victoria as Portland moved to 4-0-1 in its last five Western Hockey League games. This comes after a nine-game losing streak in which the Winterhawks (12-12-1) looked to be in freefall.
For the Royals, meanwhile, if there is any such thing as a credible loss, this would be it. Victoria (14-10-2) came into the game sporting the equivalent of a clear-cut up front with forwards Tyler Soy, Carter Folk and Blake Bargar missing due to injuries. That forced defenceman Jeremy Masella to move up and play some wing.
Despite the current dearth of forwards on the roster, the Royals attacked with aplomb in the third period, but couldn鈥檛 finish as Victoria missed two breakaways and hit iron three times.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 fault our effort,鈥� said Victoria head coach Dave Lowry, noting the game was in reach until a late empty-net goal by Portland.
鈥淲e had three forwards out of the lineup and other guys had to step up. Three posts and a crossbar [hit by the Royals] were the difference in the game.鈥�
Spencer Gerth, the six-foot-three, 200-pound winger acquired by Victoria from the Everett Silvertips, made his Royals debut with an assist in Portland on Victoria鈥檚 first goal scored by Matthew Phillips.
Regan Nagy scored the other Victoria goal in the matinee game before 5,305 fans in the venerable Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Skyler McKenzie scored two goals for the Winterhawks, including the empty-netter that put it away. Colton Veloso got the game-winner and Lane Gilliss the other goal.
Victoria starting goaltender Griffen Outhouse was strong in a 39-save performance.
Lowry said he was not concerned by the number of shots his starter faced.
鈥淲e kept the number of quality [Portland] shots down,鈥� he said.
The Royals put 35 shots on Winterhawks starter Cole Kehler.
It doesn鈥檛 get any easier today for the forward-challenged Royals when they meet the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, Washington. The Thunderbirds have been bolstered by the recent returns of 19-year-old forward Mathew Barzal from the New York Islanders of the NHL and Columbus Blue Jackets forward prospect Keegan Kolesar from injury.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a big, heavy game and we have to elevate our physical play,鈥� said Lowry.
鈥淲e have to be prepared to compete.鈥�
About defending Barzal and Kolesar, Lowry said: 鈥淭hey are the best line in the league and we have to take away their time and space.鈥�
