Armstrong's Four-Goal Effort Lifts Cougars over Giants 4-1
April 13, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release
Vancouver Giants goaltender Trent Miner vs. the Prince George Cougars
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Allen Douglas)
Kamloops, B.C. - Monday evening at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, the Vancouver Giants (5-3) dropped a 4-1 decision to the Prince George Cougars (3-2-1-1). Second-year forward Craig Armstrong scored all four goals for the Cougars while goaltender Taylor Gauthier turned aside 37 of the 38 Giants shots fired his way. Tristen Nielsen had the lone goal for the Giants who got 23 saves from goaltender Trent Miner.
1st Period:
PG - The Cougars opened the scoring at 13:00 of the first period when Craig Armstrong Kyren Gronick combined off the rush for Armstrong's second goal in as many meetings with the Giants. Riley Heidt added the second assist on the play.
Shots: 11-9 Prince George
2nd Period:
PG - Craig Armstrong's second goal of the game came off the rush at 5:26. Armstrong raced wide down the left wing and snuck a low shot past Trent Miner and in for his third goal of the season.
PG - Armstrong completed his natural hat-trick for Prince George at 9:48 on a power play. Armstrong deflected Hudson Thornton's point shot home to secure his first career WHL hat-trick.
Shots: 16-13 Vancouver
3rd Period:
VAN - Tristen Nielsen started the Vancouver Giants comeback bid with a backhand breakaway goal at 3:24. Nielsen's team-leading seventh goal was set up by Justin Sourdif and defenceman Brenden Pentecost.
PG - Craig Armstrong ended all hopes of a Giants comeback when he fired home his fourth of the night (and fifth of the season) into an empty net at 18:29.
Shots: 13-3 Vancouver
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GAME SUMMARY:
Final Score: Prince George 4 - Vancouver 1
Final Shots: 38-27 Vancouver
Taylor Gauthier: 37/38 saves for Prince George
Trent Miner: 23/26 saves for Vancouver
Prince George Power Play: 1/2
Vancouver Power Play: 0/1
3 Stars:
1) Craig Armstrong (PG - 4G)
2) Taylor Gauthier (PG - 37 Saves)
3) Riley Heidt (PG - 2A)
Next Giants Game: Thursday night in Kamloops against the Victoria Royals.
QUOTES:
"We're happy that our penalty kill wasn't out there as often as it has been as of late, but we would have liked a few more looks on the power play tonight." - Giants Associate Coach Kieth McCambridge on the special teams component of the game.
"Our group has a chance now to get back to the style of play and the speed that we had when we were having success, before these game against Prince George. There are areas that we know need to be corrected, and they will be. We have an opportunity to teach with a few days of practice and we'll take advantage of that." - Giants Associate Coach Keith McCambridge on the days ahead.
NOTES:
- Giants defenceman Brenden Pentecost recorded his first career WHL point with an assist on Tristen Nielsen's goal in the third period.
- Justin Sourdif extended his point streak to four games thanks to an assist on Tristen Nielsen's goal. He's now managed three goals and four assists for seven points during that span.
- The previous player to score four goals against the Vancouver Giants in a single game was Josh Maser of the Prince George Cougars who did so on January 10, 2018.
Images from this story
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