A team doesn’t win 10 consecutive Western Hockey League games — as the Portland Winterhawks have done — without coming through in close games.
Portland, in fact, is making a positive pattern of nail-biters.
Eight of the 10 victories in the streak are by two or fewer goals, including Wednesday’s come-from-behind overtime win at Regina.
“We’ve been pretty resilient in close games,” Winterhawks coach Mike Johnston said, chalking it up to experience and expectations.
“We’ve been able to manage the game the right way (in tight situations),” Johnston said.
Team captain Brett Ponich pointed to depth and confidence as they key ingredients with a game on the line. He noted that contributions from up and down the lineup — such as Riley Boychuck’s two goals on Wednesday — keep the pressure to produce off any one or two players.
Johnston said he was happy for Boychuk, whose second goal late in the third period forced overtime at Regina. Brad Ross scored the OT winner.
“Riley’s been playing really well the last three weeks, but just hasn’t been rewarded with points,” Johnston said. “He’s been working very hard.”
Today’s game at Saskatoon figures to be a highlight of the six-game eastern swing. The Winterhawks (16-2-0-1, 33 points) are off to the best start after 19 games in franchise history. The Blades (13-5-0-1) lead the East Division.
“It’s going to be a great challenge,” Ponich said. “That’s the kind of team we want to play against.”
At plus-18, Ponich leads the WHL in plus-minus. At even strength, when Ponich is on the ice, the Winterhawks have scored 18 more goals than they have allowed.
Ponich said he doesn’t pay attention to statistics, but that he does focus on keeping the minus column number small.
“With all of the talent we have, it allows me to focus on playing solid positionally,” the defenseman said.
Most of the players on the Winterhawks were around last season. Ponich said the last season’s October swing through the Central Division was key to the bonding process. This trip — which concludes with four games between today and Tuesday — is more fun because the players now know each other well, and many of them have family and friends attending games.
“It’s going to play a huge part in our team building,” the captain said. “We’re already a really close group. … We’re having a great time.”
Of course, Ponich added, winning is always fun.
• Johnston said one of his plans to break up the monotony of the road is to have the team go curling during an off day on Sunday in Moose Jaw.
• The Winterhawks have added Vancouver resident Riley Alferd to their list of 50 protected players.
A 15-year-old forward who participated in the Winterhawks’ training camp, Alferd is in Los Angeles playing with the L.A. Selects of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.
The Evergreen High School sophomore has four goals and five assists through 13 games and his team is 12-1 in the Midwest-based league.
Jaguars update
The Winterhawks aren’t alone in spending extensive time on the road this month. The River City Jaguars complete a stretch of six road games over three weeks with visits to Eugene today and Medford on Saturday. After those games, they will have played 12 of their first 17 games away from Mountain View Ice Arena.
Coach Ross Gale said all of the travel isn’t bothering his players.
“I think at their age the road trips are kind of fun,” Gale said.
River City (6-9) is fourth among five teams in the Pacific Division of the Northern Pacific Hockey League. The Jaguars play home games on Nov. 19, 20 and on Thanksgiving Day.
The Jags will be without four players today, the result of fighting penalties in their 7-0 loss at Southern Oregon on Sunday.
