WHL Vancouver Giants

Vancouver Giants Weekend Preview

Published on March 8, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


The Vancouver Giants are down to their final 5 games of the regular season and all that is left to decide is where the opening round of the 2012 WHL Playoffs will start. It has already been determined the Giants will take on the Spokane Chiefs; who gets home ice advantage though remains up in the air. Both the Giants and Chiefs have 79 points on the season heading into this weekend's action, but the Chiefs have a game in hand so right now they hold down the 4th spot in the Western Conference. The Giants final 5 games are as follows, 2 vs. Kamloops, 2 vs. Kelowna, and 1 vs. Victoria. Spokane has 6 games left, 2 vs. Tri-City, 2 vs. Seattle, 1 vs. Kamloops, and 1 vs. Kootenay.

This weekend marks the final two games of the season vs. the BC Division Champions from Kamloops. The Blazers (45-17-2-3) cannot finish worse then 2nd in the Western Conference, but have their sights set on 1st overall. Heading into the weekend, the Blazers are two points back of Portland and 1 point behind Tri-City. The Blazers are coming off a 5-1 win over Portland on Wednesday night, but have struggled lately with just 2 wins in their last 6 games. Friday the Giants will play host to the Blazers at the Pacific Coliseum at 7:30 pm and the following the night the two teams will be at the Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops. The Giants are 3-3-0-0 this season vs. Kamloops, winning the last match up 5-3 in Kamloops on February 25. Nathan Burns leads all Giants with 5 goals in 6 games this season against the Blazers. Brendan Ranford is the top point getter for Kamloops with 4 goals and 4 assists in 5 games vs. Vancouver.

In terms of the race for 1st place in the Western Conference, the edge has to go to the Portland Winterhawks. In their final 5 games they do not play a team with a record over .500. The Winterhawks have 2 games vs. Seattle, 2 vs. Victoria, and 1 vs. Everett. As for Tri-City they have 2 games vs. Spokane, 2 vs. Prince George, and 1 vs. Everett.

After the home and home series with Kamloops the Giants will return to the Pacific Coliseum Sunday for the 10th and final meeting of the year with the Victoria Royals. Puck drop is 5:00 pm. The Giants 6-3-0-0 this year vs. the Royals and a perfect 4-0-0-0 on home ice. The Royals (21-40-2-4-) are 8th in the Western Conference and in a serious battle to remain in the playoff picture. They are 1 point back of 7th place Everett, 2 points up on 9th place Seattle, and 4 points ahead up Prince George in the 10th spot. Victoria has 5 games remaining in their schedule, 1 vs. Vancouver, 2 vs. Portland, 1 vs. Kelowna, and 1 vs. Everett. They come into the weekend having lost four of their last five games. Sunday will mark the fourth game in five days for both teams. Brendan Gallagher leads the Giants with 8 goals, 9 assists, and 17 points vs. Victoria this season.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2012


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