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WHL Vancouver Giants

Rockets Top Giants 3-1 in Middle Game of Three-In-Three

January 30, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Vancouver Giants centre Craig Armstrong (left) vs. the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants centre Craig Armstrong (left) vs. the Kelowna Rockets
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

Vancouver, B.C. - Saturday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, the Vancouver Giants (16-20-2-0) dropped a 3-1 decision to the Kelowna Rockets (22-10-1-3). The Rockets struck three times in a span of five minutes and 47 seconds in the third period to erase a 1-0 deficit. John Babcock (2), Jake Poole (12) and Pavel Novak (18) supplied the offense for Kelowna while the lone Giants goal came via defenceman Evan Toth (2) in the first period. Jesper Vikman made 28 saves for Vancouver while Talyn Boyko stopped 24 Giants shots. Both teams finished zero-for-four on the power play, but the Rockets did have one shorthanded marker.

1st Period:

VAN - Defenceman Evan Toth (2) opened the scoring for the G-Men as the third man in off the rush. Ty Thorpe slid a pass to Toth who accepted it on the left-wing, made a drag-move to the middle of the slot and wired it past the glove of Talyn Boyko. The time of the goal was 13:09. Justin Lies had the second assist.

Shots: 9-2 Kelowna

2nd Period:

No Scoring

Shots: 13-11 Kelowna

3rd Period:

KEL - Just before the half-way point of the third period, defenceman John Babcock evened the score for Kelowna when his shot from above the left-wing circle found its way through traffic and in. Max Graham had the lone assist at 9:53.

KEL - One minute and 26 seconds later, Jake Poole (12) finished off a slick three-way passing effort with Noah Dorey and Mark Liwiski. Poole took the feed from Dorey, went in alone on Jesper Vikman and finished off a backhand deke to give Kelowna the lead.

KEL - Minnesota Wild prospect Pavel Novak (18) provided some insurance for Kelowna at 15:40 with an unassisted shorthanded goal which came from the right-wing circle.

Shots: 12-9 Vancouver

GAME SUMMARY

Final Score: Kelowna 3 - Vancouver 1

Final Shots: 31-25 Kelowna

Jesper Vikman: 28/31 saves for Vancouver (13-9-2-0)

Talyn Boyko: 24/25 saves for Kelowna (16-11-2-1)

Vancouver Power Play: 0/4

Kelowna Power Play: 0/4

3 Stars:

1) Talyn Boyko (KEL - 24 Saves)

2) Jake Poole (KEL - GWG)

3) John Babcock (KEL - 1G)

Next Giants Game: A Sunday home tilt with the Kamloops Blazers tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 PM.

NOTES

- With a goal on Saturday Evan Toth has now matched his previous season high for goals in a season. Toth also posted two goals during the 2019-20 season with Calgary as a 17-year-old rookie.

- Saturday's loss marked the first time that the Giants had lost a game in regulation when leading after two periods. The Giants are now 13-1-1-0 this season when taking a lead into the third period.

- Following Saturday's result the Giants remain seventh in the Western Conference standings with their 16-20-2-0 record (34 points). They are two points back of Prince George for sixth and they sit five points ahead of Victoria for seventh.

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Images from this story

Vancouver Giants defend against the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants defend against the Kelowna Rockets
(Steve Dunsmoor)		 Vancouver Giants eye the Kelowna Rockets goal
Vancouver Giants eye the Kelowna Rockets goal
(Steve Dunsmoor)		 Vancouver Giants battle the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants battle the Kelowna Rockets
(Steve Dunsmoor)
Vancouver Giants centre Craig Armstrong (left) vs. the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants centre Craig Armstrong (left) vs. the Kelowna Rockets
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2022


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