Some positive steps, but not enough consistency for the Swift Current Broncos tonight in Victoria.

After giving up 71 shots in a 6-2 loss against Vancouver last night, the Broncos cut that shots against total in half giving up 35 against the Royals tonight.

It wasn't enough as the Broncos fell 5-2 and didn't have the 60-minute game they hoped for.

"Our poise in the defensive zone has still got to get better," said Broncos Assistant Coach Brandin Cote. "Our communication has to get better from our defence to our forwards... we just haven't had the puck enough... we just didn't have a consistent enough effort from everyone to give ourselves an opportunity to get over that hump."



The Broncos got behind early as Kaid Oliver deflected in a Dante Hannoun shot on the power play for his sixth goal of the season.

Swift Current answered back when Joona Kiviniemi scored his first-career WHL goal. At the end of a power play and on a delayed penalty, Kiviniemi put in the rebound of a Max Patterson shot that hit the post.

Brandon Cutler took advantage of a long sequence in the Broncos' zone to one-time in a pass from Hannoun to get Victoria their lead back. Hannoun then ripped a shot upstairs on Isaac Poulter for his fifth goal of the season and a 3-1 Royals lead after the first period.

Victoria added another one early in the second period when D-Jay Jerome converted a nice pass from Oliver for his sixth of the season.

That's when the Broncos started to tighten up and get back in the game. Owen Blocker scored his first since rejoining the Broncos after Ethan O'Rourke won a battle on the wall to get Blocker the puck at the top of the left circle for a quick snap shot.



Swift Current then killed off a Ben King double minor for high sticking and were giving up fewer chances.

"Our push back has been there," Cote said. "But not consistently enough from everybody. We're trying to get that consistent level of effort and competitiveness throughout our lineup."

Despite the improved defensive play, the Broncos were not able to test rookie goalie Brock Gould enough as they finished with only 12 shots on net.

"We did have some chances where we either fanned on a shot or it's bouncing over a stick," Cote said. "I thought our response after the first period was better... but at the end of the day it's a little too little, too late."

Tanner Sidaway put the game out of reach midway through the third period when a Swift Current pass hit the referee's skates and went right to Sidaway for the lone goal of the third period.

A positive for the Broncos was Kiviniemi's goal and an assist from Ben King. King and Kiviniemi have both been able to score their first WHL goals on the road swing so far.

"You want to get contributions offensively from other guys not just the older guys," Cote said. "It's a positive when those guys are starting to get opportunities and they're getting rewarded."

Poulter made 30 saves for the Broncos in a losing cause, while Gould's 10 saves earned him his first-career WHL win. The two had played together last season at the Rink Hockey Academy.

Swift Current was missing forward Alec Zawatsky who was suspended one game for a cross-check on Bowen Byram and Matthew Stanley who received a two-game ban for a one-man fight. New Broncos defenceman Austin Herron made his WHL debut in the loss.

The Broncos take a 1-9-0-0 record into Kamloops on Friday.