Giants Punch their Ticket to the Playoffs in a 4-1 Win over Prince George
February 10, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release
Vancouver Giants line up to celebrate a goal
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rik Fedyck)
Vancouver, B.C. - For a second straight season the Vancouver Giants (37-13-2-1) are headed to the WHL playoffs. Sunday afternoon in front of 3663 strong at the LEC the Vancouver Giants skated to a 4-1 victory over the Prince George Cougars (16-32-4-2), becoming the third team in the WHL to clinch a berth in the playoffs. Davis Koch, Justin Sourdif and Tristen Nielsen all scored third period goals, breaking open a 1-1 tie. Between the pipes, David Tendeck turned aside 31 of the 32 Cougar shots fired his way. Ethan Browne had the lone goal in response for the Cougars while Taylor Gauthier made 28 saves in the Prince George net.
1st Period:
PG - Ethan Browne (8) opened the game's scoring at 9:00 of the first period off a power play. Cole Moberg and Ryan Schoettler assisted on the play.
Shots: 12-12
2nd Period:
VAN - 42 seconds into the middle frame Jared Dmytriw (12) tied the game off the rush off a feed from Jadon Joseph. Bowen Byram added the second assist on the tying marker.
Shots: 13-8 Prince George
3rd Period:
VAN - Davis Koch (22) put the Giants ahead at the 7:06 mark when he roofed a shot over Taylor Gauthier's left shoulder from the left-wing circle. Bowen Byram earned the lone assist on the goal.
VAN - Justin Sourdif extended the Giants lead to 3-1 at the 11:35 mark of the third when he knocked home his own rebound from the slot. Davis Koch set the goal up with a slick feed from the left-wing corner.
VAN - With the team's skating four-on-four, Tristen Nielsen stripped the puck away in the neutral zone, skated in alone and roofed his 10th of the season past Taylor Gauthier to make it a 4-1 game.
Shots: 9-8 Vancouver
--
Final Score: Vancouver 4 - Prince George 1
Final Shots: 33-29 Prince George
David Tendeck: 32/33 saves for Vancouver (18-9-1-1)
Taylor Gauthier: 25/29 saves for Prince George (12-22-3-1)
Vancouver: 1/3 on the Power Play
Prince George: 1/5 on the Power Play
Next Giants Game: Friday night at 7:30 PM at home against Spokane
3 Stars:
1. David Tendeck (VAN - 32 saves)
2. Davis Koch (VAN - GWG, 1G, 1A)
3. Bowen Byram (VAN - 2A)
NOTES:
- Sunday's win marked the 37th victory of the season for the G-Men which surpassed their victory total from last season. The Giants still have 15 games remaining in their season.
- The Giants wrapped up their season series with the Prince George Cougars with an 8-1 record. They finished 4-1 against the Cougars at home.
- The Giants have won five straight games and are now 14-1-0-1 in their past 16 games dating back to January 6th.
- Defenceman Bowen Byram was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game-misconduct at 13:48 of the third period after a collision with Cougars forward Mitchell Kohner. Giants head coach Michael Dyck defended Byram after the game saying: "I thought it was a clean hit. I thought he finished his check. It wasn't a blow to the head, it was a clean check to the shoulder. He didn't make head contact and you can clearly see that in the video."
- The Giants lost forward Brayden Watts early in the first period after a collision with Cougars defenceman Rhett Rhinehart. Watts left the game and did not return, leaving the Giants to play virtually the entire game with 10 forwards.
- The Giants head into this week's action one point back of the Everett Silvertips for top spot in the Western Conference standings.
Images from this story
Western Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2019
- Blades Plow Through Wheaties Sunday at SaskTel Centre - Saskatoon Blades
- Six Scorers Left Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Bad Third Dooms Cougars - Prince George Cougars
- Pats Leave Road with Loss - Regina Pats
- Giants Punch their Ticket to the Playoffs in a 4-1 Win over Prince George - Vancouver Giants
- Preview: Blades Welcome Wheaties - Saskatoon Blades
- Wheat Kings, Don Cherry to Help Promote Organ Donations - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game 54 at Portland - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, February 10 vs. Moose Jaw - Calgary Hitmen
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Medicine Hat - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Day Preview: Pats Wrap Four Game Alberta Road Trip in Edmonton - Regina Pats
- Christiansen Has Hat Trick, Wolf Another Shutout in 5-0 Playoff Clincher - Everett Silvertips
- ICE Fall 5-2 to Chiefs - Kootenay Ice
- Ams Unable to Overcome Early Flurry of Royals Goals, Fall 7-4 - Tri-City Americans
- Rebels Stymied by Warriors Netminder Evanoff and a Severe Shortage of Puck Luck - Red Deer Rebels
- Rockets Build Lead, Cruise to 4-1 Win - Kelowna Rockets
- No Dice in Everett - Portland Winterhawks
- Royals Storm Past Americans - Victoria Royals
- Tigers Outlasted by Thunderbirds 4-3 in OT - Medicine Hat Tigers
- T-Birds Tame Tigers In Overtime - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Chiefs Complete Season Sweep of ICE with 5-2 Win - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Down Hurricanes, Habscheid Records 500th WHL Win - Prince Albert Raiders
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 Forward Chorney Invited to Hockey Canada's Under-17 Development Camp
- Giants Defenceman Lin Named to Hockey Canada's U-18 Team Selection Camp
- Giants Sign Czech Defenceman Skok to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement
- Giants Sign 2024 Import Pick Tomik to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement
- Giants Select Czech Shutdown Defender Skok in CHL Import Draft
