Two teams experiencing underwhelming WHL seasons met Friday night before 2,596 fans at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Something had to give and it was the Victoria Royals, which lost for the sixth consecutive game, in a 4-2 decision that went to the Vancouver Giants.
The Giants (16-17-2) snapped a six-game losing run against the Royals in moving to 3-7-1 in their last 11 games.
The Royals (12-19-4) got some help from the Portland Winterhawks, 5-3 victors over Tri-City, to remain two points ahead of the ninth-place Americans in the race for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference. Tri-City, however, holds a game in hand.
Cole Shepard gave Vancouver the lead on Blanshard in the first period before Riley Gannon leveled for Victoria with his 11th goal. Boston Bruins first-round NHL draft pick Fabian Lysell scored in the second period, on a two-point night, and Connor Horning in the third period to give the Giants a 3-1 lead before first-round WHL prospects draft pick Austin Zemlak scored his first career major-junior goal to bring the Royals to within one. Ottawa Senators-signed Zack Ostapchuk put it away with an empty-net goal for Vancouver.
Swedish U-20 national team goaltender Jesper Vikman made 17 saves in goal for the Giants and the far more-harried Campbell Arnold blocked 34 shots for Victoria in a fine outing.
Victoria coach Dan Price said he was satisfied with the effort.
“I thought it finally looked like us. We had legs and speed but didn’t finish,” he said
“The guys are frustrated, of course, but remain confident.”
The Royals, with a roster short-staffed due to injuries and COVID protocols, had import forwards Keanu Derungs and Marcus Almquist, respective Swiss and Danish U-20 internationals, return to the line-up. Captain Tarun Fizer is week-to-week of the Victoria notables still out.
The power plays were ineffective as both sides went 0-4.
Vancouver came in with a new look after trading away captain, Florida Panthers prospect and Canada junior team player Justin Sourdif and top defenceman Tanner Brown to the respective championship-minded Edmonton Oil Kings and Winnipeg Ice in exchange for first-round draft picks in future WHL prospects draft.
The Royals return to the Memorial Centre ice tonight and face a daunting task when they take on the runaway Western Conference-leading Everett Silvertips (26-7-4) at 7 p.m.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
