Giants Avoid Elimination with a 5-2 Road Victory Friday in Kamloops
May 14, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release
Vancouver defenceman Evan Toth vs. the Kamloops Blazers
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Allen Douglas)
Kamloops, B.C. - There is no quit in the 2022 playoff version of the Vancouver Giants. Friday night at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, the Vancouver Giants erased a 2-1 third period deficit with four unanswered goals and kept their season alive in the process. Zack Ostapchuk had a goal and three assists for the Giants in a 5-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers in Game 5. Adam Hall added three points (2G, 1A) and Jesper Vikman turned aside 35 Kamloops shots to earn the victory. Matthew Seminoff and Luke Toporowski responded with goals for Kamloops.
BOX SCORE
1st Period:
KAM - 4:27 into the opening period, Luke Toporowski scored off a two-on-one rush with Logan Stanoven.
VAN - The Giants responded at 9:09 when Adam Hall (9) finished off a wrap around that was set up by Zack Ostapchuk.
Shots: 10-9 Kamloops
2rd Period:
KAM - The Blazers took their second lead of the game at 10:43 of the middle frame when Matthew Seminoff (3) pounced on a centering feed and snuck a low shot past Jesper Vikman's left pad. Fraser Minten and Viktor Persson both helped set up the play.
Shots: 13-5 Kamloops
3rd Period:
VAN - Just 1:33 into the third period the Vancouver Giants tied the score once again when Ty Thorpe swatted home a Tom Cadieux rebound off a point shot. Cole Shepard collected the second assist on Thorpe's third of the playoffs.
VAN - 59 seconds later the Giants made it 3-2 when Zack Ostapchuk finished off a centering feed from Evan Toth off the left wing. Fabian Lysell drew the second assist on Ostapchuk's sixth of the playoffs.
VAN - With 18:22 gone in the third, Adam Hall (10) extended the lead to 4-2 when he scored into an empty net on a power play. For the Giants it was only their second power play of the game and it came off a too-many-men penalty for Kamloops that came late in regulation.
VAN - Zack Ostapchuk (7) ended all hopes of a Kamloops comeback at 18:38 when he also scored into an empty net off a shot from center. Fabian Lysell and Adam Hall both assisted.
Shots: 14-12 Kamloops
GAME SUMMARY
Final Score: Vancouver 5 - Kamloops 2 (Kamloops leads the series 3-2)
Final Shots: 37-26 Kamloops
Jesper Vikman: 35/37 saves for Vancouver
Dylan Garand: 21/24 saves for Kamloops
Vancouver Power Play: 1/2
Kamloops Power Play: 0/3
3 Stars:
1) Zack Ostapchuk (VAN - 2G, 2A)
2) Matthew Seminoff (KAM - 1G)
3) Jesper Vikman (VAN - 35 Saves)
Next Game: Sunday at 4:00 PM at the LEC for Game 6.
GET TICKETS
NOTES
- After his four point effort Friday in Kamloops, Zack Ostapchuk is once again the outright scoring leader in the 2022 playoffs. With seven goals and 16 assists, his 23 points are two clear of teammate Fabian Lysell.
- Jesper Vikman leads all WHL goaltenders with 326 playoff saves. The next closest goaltender is Red Deer's Chase Coward with 233.
- During the regular season, the Giants lone victory when trailing after two periods came on February 19th against Kamloops. The first victory for the Giants in the playoffs when trailing after two periods also came against Kamloops who was previously 7-0 when leading after two periods.
- Adam Hall's 10 goals are tops among all WHL skaters in the playoffs.
Images from this story
Western Hockey League Stories from May 14, 2022
- Oil Kings to Take on Winnipeg ICE in WHL Eastern Conference Championship Series - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Game Day Hub: Round 2, Game 5 vs Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Giants Avoid Elimination with a 5-2 Road Victory Friday in Kamloops - Vancouver Giants
- T-Birds in Must-Win Mode - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hanas, Chyzowski Shine as Hawks Push T-Birds to the Brink - Portland Winterhawks
- Hanas, Chyzowski Shine as Hawks Push T-Birds to the Brink - Portland Winterhawks
- Winnipeg Advances to WHL Eastern Conference Championship Series - Winnipeg Ice
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Vancouver Giants Stories
- Giants Acquire Multiple Draft Picks from Rockets in Exchange for Leslie
- Giants' Viveiros Won't Return After Accepting Head Coaching Position in Pro Hockey
- Giants Select Local Goal Scorer & Two-Way D-Man in First Round of WHL Prospects Draft
- Giants Don't Lose a Player in Expansion Draft
- Three Giants Win Gold with Canada at U18s
