dondo
02-04-2007, 06:01 PM
Giants Fall to the Rockets
Vancouver 0 Kelowna 2
Two different goalies kept us off the score sheet, when Kristofer Westblom went down with what sounded like a knee injury.
Worst PP in the entire DUB and we allow them to score three times in two games .. going 3 for 18 -- (2 for 7 on Feb 2nd, and a whopping 1 for 11 last night) --- speaking of which were the Giants that guilty of infractions? or were the refs that stupid/gullible, from what I listened to last night and it wasn't all of it-- it sounded like the former and that just isn't acceptable.
Even Bill Wilms (perennial homer - never a bad thing to say about the G-Men)was saying the Giants lacked the intensity of the previous night and frankly there wasn't much intensity until the Rockets tied it up -- (the crowd was more intense than the players on Friday).
Frankly this is simply an UNacceptable outing for a team which already has a ticket punched for the Memorial Cup. I am not seeing the hunger except in flashes from the same players for the most part. I am seeing a load of poor play, esp in their own end and a bit of panic at times, something I never saw earlier this season.
here's Joey's take on the game
by Joey Kenward (Voice of the Giants)
The Vancouver Giants enter the week tied for top spot in the WHL’s B.C. Division after letting a golden opportunity slip away on the road Saturday night. For just the third time this year, the Giants failed to score a goal as they wound up dropping a 2-0 decision to the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place.
The only goal of the opening frame came when Myles MacRae broke down the left wing and beat Tyson Sexsmith with a high shot to the top corner. For MacRae, it was his 10th of the year and it came at 9:39.
The Giants had some good chances to capitalize on in the first period, but failed to beat Rockets netminder Kristofer Westblom, including on three Vancouver power plays.
Vancouver then got into penalty trouble in the middle frame by taking four straight minors. Eventually the Rockets made them pay as Clayton Barthel found the back of the net with a shot from the middle of the blue line. Tyler Myers and Colin Long get the helpers on Barthel’s 6th of the season at 10:07.
In the final period, the Giants mounted a series of great chances. Wacey Rabbit was robbed in the slot with Vancouver on the power play while Milan Lucic missed a great chance all alone beside the Kelowna net.
With just under seven minutes gone in the third period, J.D. Watt broke down the right wing into the Rockets zone and cut hard to the net. He wound up being pushed from behind by defenceman Tyler Myers directly into Westblom. Kelowna’s puck-stopper would have to leave the game with what appeared to be a knee injury and was replaced by rookie Torrie Jung. Westblom finished the night making 27 saves.
The Giants continued to mount chances around the Kelowna net, but failed to score. Then Vancouver got into penalty trouble again, allowing the Rockets to finish off the game on the power play and giving them a valuable two points in their quest to secure the final playoff spot in the B.C. Division.
Final shots-on-goal totals favoured the Giants by a margin of 36-21. The Giants finished the night going 0-for-8 on the play while the Rockets went 1-for-11.
Now with a record of 33-12-3-6, the Giants are tied with the Kamloops Blazers for top spot in their division. Vancouver, who have won three straight on home ice, return to the Pacific Coliseum next Wednesday to entertain the visiting Prince George Cougars. Game time is 7:00pm PST.
Vancouver 0 Kelowna 2
Two different goalies kept us off the score sheet, when Kristofer Westblom went down with what sounded like a knee injury.
Worst PP in the entire DUB and we allow them to score three times in two games .. going 3 for 18 -- (2 for 7 on Feb 2nd, and a whopping 1 for 11 last night) --- speaking of which were the Giants that guilty of infractions? or were the refs that stupid/gullible, from what I listened to last night and it wasn't all of it-- it sounded like the former and that just isn't acceptable.
Even Bill Wilms (perennial homer - never a bad thing to say about the G-Men)was saying the Giants lacked the intensity of the previous night and frankly there wasn't much intensity until the Rockets tied it up -- (the crowd was more intense than the players on Friday).
Frankly this is simply an UNacceptable outing for a team which already has a ticket punched for the Memorial Cup. I am not seeing the hunger except in flashes from the same players for the most part. I am seeing a load of poor play, esp in their own end and a bit of panic at times, something I never saw earlier this season.
here's Joey's take on the game
by Joey Kenward (Voice of the Giants)
The Vancouver Giants enter the week tied for top spot in the WHL’s B.C. Division after letting a golden opportunity slip away on the road Saturday night. For just the third time this year, the Giants failed to score a goal as they wound up dropping a 2-0 decision to the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place.
The only goal of the opening frame came when Myles MacRae broke down the left wing and beat Tyson Sexsmith with a high shot to the top corner. For MacRae, it was his 10th of the year and it came at 9:39.
The Giants had some good chances to capitalize on in the first period, but failed to beat Rockets netminder Kristofer Westblom, including on three Vancouver power plays.
Vancouver then got into penalty trouble in the middle frame by taking four straight minors. Eventually the Rockets made them pay as Clayton Barthel found the back of the net with a shot from the middle of the blue line. Tyler Myers and Colin Long get the helpers on Barthel’s 6th of the season at 10:07.
In the final period, the Giants mounted a series of great chances. Wacey Rabbit was robbed in the slot with Vancouver on the power play while Milan Lucic missed a great chance all alone beside the Kelowna net.
With just under seven minutes gone in the third period, J.D. Watt broke down the right wing into the Rockets zone and cut hard to the net. He wound up being pushed from behind by defenceman Tyler Myers directly into Westblom. Kelowna’s puck-stopper would have to leave the game with what appeared to be a knee injury and was replaced by rookie Torrie Jung. Westblom finished the night making 27 saves.
The Giants continued to mount chances around the Kelowna net, but failed to score. Then Vancouver got into penalty trouble again, allowing the Rockets to finish off the game on the power play and giving them a valuable two points in their quest to secure the final playoff spot in the B.C. Division.
Final shots-on-goal totals favoured the Giants by a margin of 36-21. The Giants finished the night going 0-for-8 on the play while the Rockets went 1-for-11.
Now with a record of 33-12-3-6, the Giants are tied with the Kamloops Blazers for top spot in their division. Vancouver, who have won three straight on home ice, return to the Pacific Coliseum next Wednesday to entertain the visiting Prince George Cougars. Game time is 7:00pm PST.