Giants continue to roll with playoffs a game away

(Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants)

Fan appreciation night is a time when a team shows appreciation for their fans, and Giants fans got a little spoiled! The Vancouver Giants hosted the Kelowna Rockets for the final time during the regular season and earned a 3-2 victory. Vancouver’s third goal came near the end of regulation and gave the club their fourth victory against Kelowna this season and their 28th victory of the year.

How much time was there exactly left on the clock, you ask? There was enough time for another faceoff after the goal was scored but not enough time for Kelowna to respond. Vancouver had a solid showing in the Rockets zone in the final 10 minutes of the third period and would ultimately be rewarded offensively after a few solid offensive chances.

Brendan Pentecost had control of the puck along the Rockets’ blue line with just under eight seconds remaining in the third period and sent the puck down to the left faceoff dot for Ty Thorpe. Thorpe found Samuel Honzek, who was left wide open in the slot, and wired it on the glove side of Rockets goaltender Talyn Boyko. Honzek’s second of the night and 23rd of the year came at the 19:57 mark.

Andrew Cristall, the offensive leader of the Rockets, entered the contest eighth in league scoring with 38 goals and 50 assists for 88 points in 52 games. Cristall opened the game’s scoring with a fantastic individual effort on a partial break that saw him cut to the backhand and insert the puck to the top of the net and in. The Burnaby, BC product would later help Kelowna regain their one-goal lead with 8:08 left in the middle frame.

Vancouver had help from Skyler Bruce, who pounced on a rebound 0:41 later to tie the game up at one. Colton Alain earned the secondary assist on that goal which would be his first-ever point with Vancouver, while Sam Honzek also had an assist on the goal and would eventually go on to score the following two goals for the Giants.

The never say die attitude of the G-men, combined with the fantastic effort from goaltender Brett Mirwald and sniper Samuel Honzek was just enough for the team to pull away with two points. Kelowna outshot Vancouver 26-20 but failed to score on their two power-play opportunities. Vancouver went 1/2 on the man-advantage.

Ty Halaburda (RW), Ethan Semeniuk (C), Jaden Lipinski (C), Jesper Vikman (G), and Dylan Anderson (D) were all healthy scratches for Vancouver. Matthew Edwards (RW) is assumed to have been out of action because of his shoulder, while Carson Haynes (D) is out for the season due to a wrist injury. Haynes turned 20 in January and was a solid and steady presence on Vancouver’s blue line. He was a significant boost on the team’s penalty kill.

Vancouver and Kelowna will battle again to close out the regular season with a 7:05 pm contest in Kelowna tonight. Matthew Hutchison has played in six games between the pipes with Vancouver this season and is expected to get the nod in net in Kelowna.

Drafted 50th Overall in the 2021 WHL Draft by the Giants, he had an impressive regular season in the VIJHL, earning him the title of the year's goaltender. His dominant season was evident with a 19-1 record, a 1.82 GAA, and a 0.933 SV% as the youngest goaltender in the league.

Another victory would be huge for the Vancouver Giants, who will have just under a week to prepare for their first-round playoff series with Kamloops.