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View Full Version : Giants Solidify 3rd Place With Victory



Kassian
03-07-2005, 02:16 PM
The Vancouver Giants turned in a near-perfect effort in Kamloops on Sunday, executing a textbook road game plan in a 4-1 win. The G-Men never lost in eight head-to-head matchups with the Blazers in 2004/05 and held their BC Division rival to three goals against in their final three games.

After a fruitless first period, Matt Robinson (left) scored his first of two goals, converting a fine passing play with linemates Triston Grant and Adam Courchaine at 10:27 of the middle frame. Defenseman Andrej Meszaros put Vancouver up 2-0 on a powerplay a few minutes later at 13:38. Chad Scharff was credited with the Giants' third goal, at 14:00 of the third period, when the winger broke out for a 2-on-1 with Cam Cunning and the puck wound up going in off of Kamloops ' defender Vic Bartley's stick. Robinson officially ended the night's festivities with an empty netter at 19:47 of the final stanza.

Adam Jennings shone early and shoved out all but one of the 25 shots directed at him for the victory. Only Aaron Richards beat the Giants' backup goalie, scoring on a powerplay at 16:52 of the second period. The Blazers started off dominating the play and out-shot the G-Men 9-1 in the initial stages.

“We didn't have the start we wanted, but we sure responded with some good shifts at the end of the first period and then carried that momentum into the second and third periods,” said Assistant Coach Mike Dyck. “A pretty solid effort, certainly in the last couple of periods, and we had guys step up and play well.”

Jennings earned his seventh win, against eight losses, in his 15 th appearance this year. The 19-year-old held the game together until the Giants' checking lines established an edge in the first half of the second period. Vancouver wound up sending 42 shots at Kamloops goalie Devan Dubnyk.

“He was the guy that stepped up for us early,” Dyck said of Jennings . “He made a couple big saves when they had a couple powerplays and he stood tall for us. We actually got the momentum going from Keith Voytechek's line – he played extremely well again tonight. We wanted to get the puck deep, we wanted to put some pressure on their defense, we wanted to generate our cycle and once we started doing that we started generating some opportunities.”

Keyed on early in the contest, Gilbert Brule and his linemates, known usually for their offensive contributions, helped establish the forecheck and open up room for Robinson, Grant (one assist) and Courchaine, who set up the club's first two goals.

“The Gilbert Brule line, with Cam Cunning and Mitch Bartley, defensively, they were outstanding,” Dyck said. “Gilbert has paid a lot of attention to that the last couple of games and played really well defensively. Adam Courchaine had a real good game tonight for us and that's something we need from him. We expect him to get dirty down low and to make some things happen in traffic and he did that.”

With the win, the Giants officially nailed down third place in the BC Division, preventing both the Blazers and regular upcoming opponent, Prince George , from catching them. Vancouver will start the first round in either Kelowna or Cranbrook against the Kootenay Ice, while Kamloops and the Cougars battle it out for the final post-season spot. The G-Men play back-to-back games in PG next weekend and then host the Cats on March 15 th .

“First and foremost we want to establish that consistency,” Dyck said regarding the impending trip up North. “I think we made some steps (on Saturday) when we played against Kelowna (1-1 tie) and the way we wanted to play defensively tonight. Going into Prince George we want to focus on the process and focus on some of the things that are going to make us successful going into the playoffs.”

Knuckles Muldoon
03-07-2005, 07:55 PM
Solidifying third. Yee-hoo. :rolleyes:

Kassian
03-07-2005, 09:04 PM
Solidifying third. Yee-hoo. :rolleyes:

My thoughts exactly. :skeptical

Sput
03-07-2005, 10:51 PM
I'll gladly trade you team positions. Give y'al something to cheer for in the last six games. :laugh: