WHL Vancouver Giants

Giants Wrap up Weekend with a 3-2 Road Victory in Kelowna

Published on April 10, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Vancouver Giants goaltender Matthew Hutchison vs. the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants goaltender Matthew Hutchison vs. the Kelowna Rockets
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

Kelowna, B.C. - The Vancouver Giants (24-37-4-0) are now back in sixth place in the Western Conference playoff standings after a massive 3-2 road victory Sunday afternoon in Kelowna. Adam Hall (1G, 1A), Zack Ostapchuk (1G, 1A) and Fabian Lysell (2A) each had two points and 15-year-old goaltender Matthew Hutchison made 27 saves to earn his first career WHL victory for the Giants who snagged their first victory in a span of nine games. The Rockets got goals in response from Colton Dach and Max Graham and 22 saves from goaltender Jari Kykkanen.

BOX SCORE

1st Period:

No Scoring

Shots: 8-8

2nd Period:

VAN - Adam Hall opened the scoring the Giants off the rush from a shot from the right-wing circle. Zack Ostapchuk and Evan Toth both helped set up Hall's 17th of the season.

VAN - 50 seconds later, the Giants top line found pay dirt again. This time it was Zack Ostapchuk who skated onto a gorgeous saucer pass from Adam Hall, skated in close and roofed his 24th. Fabian Lysell had the second assist.

KEL - Max Graham responded at 14:58 off a two-on-one rush. He one-timed home his 10th off a feed from Dylan Wightman. Gabriel Szturc had the second assist.

VAN - 12 seconds alter the Giants made it 3-1 when Evan Toth's (5) point shot snuck past the shoulder of Jari Kykkanen from the left-wing.

Shots: 10-8 Vancouver

3rd Period:

KEL - Colton Dach moved Kelowna within one goal at 10:18 when he followed up his own rebound, spun and deflected a shot off Matthew Hutchison and home. Dach's 26th was set up by Adam Kydd and Caden Price. That's as close as the Rockets would get though as the Giants kept the door shut from there.

Shots: 13-7 Kelowna

GAME SUMMARY

Final Score: Vancouver 3 - Kelowna 2

Final Shots: 29-25 Kelowna

Matthew Hutchison: 27/29 saves for Vancouver

Jari Kykkanen: 22/25 saves for Kelowna

Vancouver Power Play: 0/3

Kelowna Power Play: 0/4

3 Stars:

1) Zack Ostapchuk (VAN - 1G, 1A)

2) Adam Hall (VAN - 1G, 1A)

3) Colton Dach (KEL - 1G)

Next Giants Game: Wednesday at home against the Seattle Thunderbirds.

NOTES

- Matthew Hutchison became the second 2006-born goaltender to earn a victory this season in the WHL, joining Red Deer's Chase Wutzke.

- Zack Ostapchuk has now scored goals in three straight games for the Giants. He now has five goals and one assist for six points in that span. His 24 goals are tops on the team.

- The Giants improved their season series record against the Kelowna Rockets to 5-5-1-0.

- The victory on Sunday for the Giants moved them into sole possession of sixth place in the Western Conference standings. With two more points in their final three games, the Giants can finish no worse than tied for eighth place.

- The Vancouver Giants are responsible for two of Kelowna's six regulation home losses this season.

Check out the Vancouver Giants Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Images from this story

Vancouver Giants centre Ty Thorpe against the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants centre Ty Thorpe against the Kelowna Rockets
(Steve Dunsmoor)		 Vancouver Giants goaltender Matthew Hutchison faces the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants goaltender Matthew Hutchison faces the Kelowna Rockets
(Steve Dunsmoor)		 Vancouver Giants right wing Fabian Lysell vs. the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants right wing Fabian Lysell vs. the Kelowna Rockets
(Steve Dunsmoor)
Vancouver Giants goaltender Matthew Hutchison vs. the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants goaltender Matthew Hutchison vs. the Kelowna Rockets
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2022


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.

OurSports Central