WHL Vancouver Giants

Giants Fall to Bruins, 3-2

Published on November 12, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


CHILLIWACK BC - The Vancouver Giants took 18 games to do what every other WHL team has already done at least four times this season...lose in regulation. The Chilliwack Bruins ended their run of futility against the Giants by hanging on for a 3-2 decision before a holiday crowd of 4,631 at Prospera Centre.

The Giants started out once again guns a blazing, as Garry Nunn was able to convert an Evander Kane turnover into a top shelf goal past the startled Bruins goaltender Mark Friesen, just 1:35 into the opening period. For Nunn, it was his fourth of the season as he has now scored in back to back games. For Evander Kane, the lone assist extends his point streak to 18 games, tops in the WHL. Kane's marker also allowed him to jump into first place in the WHL scoring race.

After a great start, the Giants found themselves in penalty trouble. Over the past nine road games, the Giants had been outstanding on the penalty kill, successfully killing off 50 of 53 opportunities against and being successful nearly 95% of the time. Tonight would not be a night that followed form on the PK, as newest Bruin Andy Smith was able to find a loose puck behind the Vancouver goal and beat Tyson Sexsmith on the wrap-around to tie the score at 1-1, 9:29 first period.

The tie wouldn't last for long, as just 1:32 later; the Bruins would have their lead. Andy Smith with his second of the night would convert a Randy McNaught feed to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead. Before the period was complete, the Bruins would double their lead. With the Giants again in the penalty box, Swedish forward Alexander Wiklund would pounce on a loose puck and on his second chance would bury his fifth goal of the season behind Sexsmith. Despite being outshot 14-6 by the Giants in period number one, the Bruins would go to the locker room with a 3-1 lead.

The second period was like the first for Vancouver, except they kept the puck out of their own goal. Despite relentless pressure and an onslaught of 19 shots in the second period, only Adam Basford was able to beat Friesen to cut the lead to one. In the dying seconds of the period, with Chilliwack scrambling in front of their net minder, Basford was able to shovel the puck past Friesen for his third of the year. At 19:51 of the second, Basford cut the lead to one.

In the third period, the Bruins were able to hold off the continuous Giants pressure to secure the victory. The best chance of the period belonged to Evander Kane, who found himself all alone out front after a brilliant play by Jonathon Blum. Unfortunately for Kane, the puck rolled off his stick as he shot, bouncing the puck wide

With the defeat, Vancouver suffers its first regulation loss of the season and falls to a still impressive record of 14-1-0-3. With the win, the Chilliwack Bruins move to 7-11-1-2. The Bruins seventeen points push them past Seattle into eighth place in the Western Conference, with the Thunderbirds holding two games in hand. The Giants 31 points keep them one clear of Tri-City in the Western Conference race for first overall, with the Giants still holding three games in hand.

Next up the Giants will take on the Kelowna Rockets in the Okanagan on Wednesday night. Pre game show on AM 650 will be at 6:30. Dave Sheldon will have the call of the game from Prospera Place at 7 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2008


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