Winterhawks Defeat Giants 5-1
November 11, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release
Langley, B.C. - The Vancouver Giants lost 5-1 to the Portland Winterhawks on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre.
The Giants's record is now 7-9-1 this season.
Scoring the lone goal for Vancouver was Kyren Gronick, his fourth of the season.
The Winterhawks, who are now 12-4-0-1 this season, led 2-0 after 20 minutes and 4-0 after 40 minutes, getting two goals each from 20-year-olds Gabe Klassen and James Stefan, as well as a goal from Josh Zakreski.
None of Portland's five goals came at 5-on-5: two were power play markers, two were scored shorthanded and one was potted during 4-on-4 play.
GAME SUMMARY:
The Winterhawks opened the scoring on their second power play of the period at the 11:21 mark. Josh Davies fed a pass from the bottom of the circle to the high slot to Klassen, who quickly fired a wrist shot to the top corner.
Vancouver got their first power play opportunity near the end of the first period, but found themselves tired at the end of a long shift and surrendered a shorthanded goal, as Stefan scored his 10th of the season to give Portland a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
Midway through the second, Zakreski scored on the power play off a backhand shot to give Portland a 3-0 advantage.
With under two minutes to go in the second, the Winterhawks converted right off an offensive zone face-off during 4-on-4 play, as Ryder Thompson spotted Klassen just outside the crease for an easy tap-in to make it 4-0 after 40 minutes of play.
Just 47 seconds into the third period, Klassen would find Stefan shorthanded yet again for his second goal of the game, increasing the visitor's lead to 5-0.
Vancouver did get on the board at the 7:42 mark of the third period off an odd-man rush, after Aaron Obobaifo out-waited the defender before feeding a pass to Gronick in the middle of the ice, who ripped it home on the glove side for his fourth goal of the season.
THEY SAID IT
"Give Portland credit. They're such a good hockey team. We had a game plan. We thought we had a plan for us to put in place as far as being able to nullify that, but you can't take penalties like we did to start off the game. We got behind the eight ball and then we're trying to play catch up against a team like that. I thought we had some good chances to get back into the game and then to give up that shorthanded goal was kind of a back breaker. And we were fully aware of when they're on the ice on the penalty kill, they're that explosive and they can make something out of nothing and that's what they did here. It's a humbling loss this evening. We're not Portland. Like I said before we played these guys, that's one of the best teams in the country." - Head Coach Manny Viveiros
STATISTICS
SOG: VAN - 5/5/13 = 23 | POR - 13/21/13 = 47
PP: VAN - 0/5 | POR - 2/4
Face-Offs: VAN - 39 | POR - 31
3 STARS
1st: POR - Gabe Klassen - 2G, 2A, 4 SOG
2nd: POR - James Stefan - 2G, 11 SOG
3rd: VAN - Brett Mirwald - 42 Saves on 47 Shots
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Vancouver: Loss - Brett Mirwald (42 saves / 47 shots)
Portland: Win - Jan Spunar (22 saves / 23 shots)
NEXT GAME:
Vancouver wraps up their week tomorrow (Saturday) when they head to Everett to battle the Silvertips for the first time this season.
Images from this story
Vancouver Giants battle the Portland Winterhawks (Rob Wilton) |
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from November 11, 2023
- Friesen Scores Again, But Wild Fall 4-1 at Medicine Hat Saturday - Wenatchee Wild
- Sell-Out Home Crowd Drives Spokane Chiefs to Resounding 6-3 Victory Over Kamloops - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Hold off Raiders 5-4 in an Entertaining Matchup - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen Take Down Oil Kings, 10-2 - Calgary Hitmen
- POWER KILL Tips Net 3 Shorthanded in 6-2 Win Over Vancouver - Everett Silvertips
- Tigers Win 4th Straight in 4-1 Victory Over Wild - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings Roughed Up By Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Saturday's Game vs Kamloops Officially Sold Out - Spokane Chiefs
- Wheat Kings Explode Offensively in Win over Regina - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pats Great Start Not Enough in 7-5 Loss to Wheat Kings - Regina Pats
- Wild Announce Assignment of Savoie to Wenatchee by NHL's Buffalo Sabres - Wenatchee Wild
- Preview: Oil Kings vs. Calgary Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Chiefs Host Blazers Saturday for First School Night of 2023-24 - Spokane Chiefs
- Game Day Preview: Game 20 vs Wenatchee - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Cougars Come from Behind to Defeat Rebels in Shootout - Prince George Cougars
- Hawks Wrap up Roadie with 5-1 Win in Vancouver - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Taken Down by Silvertips - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors Drop Tight Shootout Game to Tigers - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Oil Kings Bested by Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Wild Win Streak Snapped at Eight, Lethbridge Picks up 5-1 Victory Friday - Wenatchee Wild
- Hemmerling Grabs Goal, Assist in 2-1 Win Over Rockets - Everett Silvertips
- Winterhawks Defeat Giants 5-1 - Vancouver Giants
- Spokane Chiefs Host Prince Albert, Fall 3-2 to Open the Weekend - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Win Chippy 3-2 Game in Spokane - 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 Incoming Rookies Lin, Olson Invited to Hockey Canada's U17 Development Camp
- Giants Forward Schmidt Named to Hockey Canada's Summer U18 Selection Camp
- Giants GM Parneta Named to Hockey Canada's Staff for U17 World Challenge
- Giants Select Slovakian Forward Tomik in CHL Import Draft
- Giants Defenceman Roberts Selected by Sharks in 2024 NHL Entry Draft