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Kassian
03-12-2005, 01:49 AM
From: http://www.vancouvergiants.com

The Vancouver Giants used a fast start to stake their turf in Prince George on Friday, doubling up on the Cougars 6-3. The top line of Adam Courchaine, Matt Robinson and Triston Grant struck for eight collective points in the first half of a contest the G-Men dominated and held four separate three-goal leads.

Treating a two-game visit to the Prince George Multiplex, plus a home date versus the Cats on Tuesday, like a mini three-game playoff series, the Giants led 2-0 after one period when Courchaine and Robinson both scored after the midway point. Courchaine potted his first of two goals at 10:14 on a powerplay and Robinson lit the lamp on a rebound at 19:16 .

Courchaine connected with his linemates again, at 4:49 of the middle frame on a powerplay, before a pair of unlikely heroes emerged later in the period. Rookie defenseman Cody Franson scored the eventual game-winning goal, just his second of the season, after defensive centre Ryan Costanzo won a face-off back to the big rearguard at 11:48 . Another hulking blueliner, the recently returned Mark Fistric, notched his first goal of the season after a beautiful pass from Gilbert Brule at 16:32 . Brule rounded out the Giants' big offensive night with a deft tip-in at 6:19 of the third period.

“The first period was a real good road period and that's what our focus was,” said Assistant Coach/Assistant GM Craig Bonner. “We knew they came out hard here and looking at the stats throughout the year, their first period has been their best. We got the lead and then took a couple of dumb penalties in the second and got ourselves in a little bit of trouble, but every time they pushed we pushed back.”

PG clawed back with two goals in the second past Giants' goalie Marek Schwarz, but never got within a pair on the night despite piling up 34 shots. Dustin Byfuglien scored during a 4-on-3 man advantage at 7:58 and Lee Zalasky connected at 15:20 . Nick Drazenovic, who assisted on the first two Cats' tallies, netted one of his own 1:30 into the third period.

Courchaine (two goals, one assist) alongside Robinson (one goal, two assists) and Grant (two assists), simply ate up the Cougars before they knew what hit them. Brule and Mitch Bartley later combined for three points on the final two goals.

“That line was excellent,” Bonner stated, praising the trio. “That's probably as good as they've been in a couple months and that's a real positive thing. Brule's line had some good shifts and some average shifts, but when you have skill players like that, they can hurt you in a hurry. It's a luxury we have and a credit to our scouting staff and to some of the trades we've made to have players like that.”

Fistric has obviously recovered nicely from a second broken jaw setback that has limited the Dallas Stars' prospect to just eight games in 2004/05. No other Western Hockey League team received a player capable of making such an impact heading into the final month of the season. In addition to crease and zone clearing defensive tendencies, Fistric chipped in with two big points on Friday.

“Fisty has been – and we knew it – he's a huge part of our team,” said Bonner of the prized defender. “Him coming back has just been a big boost for us, especially defensively. He's always that guy that you can rely on to have a good defensive shift and for him to get a goal like that is just a feather in his cap. That's not what he's here for but for him to chip in like that, he's pretty happy.”

The Giants chased Prince George starting goalie Real Cyr from the game after two periods and 25 shots. The 17-year-old made 20 saves before giving way to Scott Bowles, who stopped five of six shots in the final frame. Vancouver may elect to rotate goalies themselves and give Adam Jennings the start on Saturday in the quick re-match against the Cougars.

Jimmy
03-12-2005, 02:26 AM
Nice to hear Fistric get his first.
Though they are going to have to tighten up defensively... there shouldn't have been so many times that PG were allowed to respond to a goal with one of their own.

Beaner
03-12-2005, 10:57 AM
Well, looks like PG is done, and Vancouver is probably going to be the one to knock them out.

5 games left for PG, 7 points back next 2 games vs. the Giants. PG has to win both these games to even have a chance at Kamloops.

Kassian
03-12-2005, 03:41 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if P.G. won tonight, but I don't see them winning on Tuesday in Vancouver.

Of course the Giants can score 6 goals on the road, but not at home. They just want to screw all us fans out of the white spot appetizer, LOL. :mad: