dondo
03-08-2009, 11:44 PM
The Giants kept the Blazers off the score-sheet until they were able to get some shots to go past Leclerc, who was excellent tonight. Leclerc turned away at least three premier quality scoring chances.
Their PK was very solid through most of the game, but was finally weathered down late in the third when the Blazers took advantage of their second 5 on 3 in the game.
Tucker made some nice stops in the second keeping his team in the game, but he didn't face the level of shots Leclerc was turning away in my opinion. He held his team to their 1-0 lead through most of the game though and was solid down low and quick with his glove. I have no worries at all when Tucker becomes the guy next season, he's going to be fun to watch.
Todd Kennedy is out with a sprained MCL with 4 to 6 weeks expected for recovery. Lance Bouma could be ready to go in Kamloops, but will probably be seen in the line-up at the Coliseum on Friday. It'll be great to get his energy and physical domination back int he line-up, something the Giants have lacked these past couple of months and something they will need come playoff time.
Good smart hockey most of the game and the appropriate result for the 13,500 fans in attendance.
Giants Snuff Blazers
Vancouver 5 Kamloops 2
Don Robinson
The Giants were ready to come out to play after dropping their last two. They brought a fast game to the ice even after a trying bus ride home on bad roads and losing an hour to daylight savings. Jonathon Blum started out the game on the wing, with rookie Bronson Maschmeyer back in the line-up on D. Justin Leclerc was very solid tonight, but eventually the Giants broke through his armour to get insurance markers they would need. Jamie Tucker was pretty close to getting his shut-out but a couple of late penalties in the third made the game closer than it should have been. Leclerc was really the only thing keeping the Blazers in the game, who played a fairly good game, but allowed more than a few odd-man rushes. James Wright opened the scoring in the first with a brilliant individual rush. Evander Kane found Wright on the opposing blue-line with a sweet pass. Wright did a very good job staying onside before driving to the net and launching the water bottle with a snap shot from in close. The Giants would not get another goal until the third and had to weather some great PP chances by the Blazers in the second before squandering their early chances with the man-advantage. Leclerc was a big part of that as he absolutely robbed Kane on a great individual foray where he drove down the side, cut around the D and lifted a back-hand cutting across the crease. A quick glove by Leclerc saved an almost sure goal.
The home team finally got their PP working at the beginning of the third at the tail-end of a penalty from the second. Garry Nunn tipped home a point shot from Blum, with Andrej Kudrna running a nice screen in front of the net. Just before the mid-way mark of the third Alex Rodgers took a great pass from Blum cutting through the slot, tipping the slap pass into the net. A great rush and sweet finish by Brendan Gallagher capped off the Giants run of unanswered goals. Dulle and Bubnick scored for the Blazers as they took advantage of their second 5 on 3 advantage of the game, breaking Tucker’s shut-out bid and making the Giants happy they had those insurance markers. Kane tipped home a Mischa Fisenko shot into the empty net and then apologized to the Russian forward for stealing his goal. Kane was rushing to the net with his stick on the ice and deflected the puck, which was probably going into the net anyway, across the goal-line.
No fisticuffs in the game and a ton of penalties called, most of the soft variety, but in the end it was at least balanced if not well officiated. The Giants went 2 for 7 on the PP, while the Blazers were 2 for 8. A few of the Giants penalties were undisciplined retaliation penalties when they got tired of being worked over, which happened a lot in this game. Kane seems to be battling traffic and is rarely without an opponent jerseyed back-pack in tow, quite frequently with a hand on his stick or arm. I personally would like to see him get the benefit of the doubt on those plays, but that’s also the cross that skill players bear in the game, so he better get used to it as it’ll be happening at all levels. The Giants got scoring from throughout their line-up and their patience paid off as they kept going to the net to get the goals. CPZ looked soft again tonight, floating a bit and standing still a good portion of the time. I’m hoping it’s just fatigue and not the fact that he is one of those great regular season players who can’t seem to make the jump to playoff level hockey. The Giants will need him to be at his best in the playoffs or they could find themselves in tough.
The G-Men gained two points tonight and are now one point behind Calgary for top spot in the Dub. The Hitmen don’t play again until next weekend and the Giants have three games this week to take the crown. Run the table and they take it. Lose one and they will need to have Calgary stumble to get the nod. Today’s game was part one of a home and home series versus the Blazers. The Giants play the Blazers in Kamloops on Wednesday. The puck drops at 7pm PDT.
Three Stars
1) Jonathon Blum
2) Brendan Gallagher
3) Alex Rodgers
Their PK was very solid through most of the game, but was finally weathered down late in the third when the Blazers took advantage of their second 5 on 3 in the game.
Tucker made some nice stops in the second keeping his team in the game, but he didn't face the level of shots Leclerc was turning away in my opinion. He held his team to their 1-0 lead through most of the game though and was solid down low and quick with his glove. I have no worries at all when Tucker becomes the guy next season, he's going to be fun to watch.
Todd Kennedy is out with a sprained MCL with 4 to 6 weeks expected for recovery. Lance Bouma could be ready to go in Kamloops, but will probably be seen in the line-up at the Coliseum on Friday. It'll be great to get his energy and physical domination back int he line-up, something the Giants have lacked these past couple of months and something they will need come playoff time.
Good smart hockey most of the game and the appropriate result for the 13,500 fans in attendance.
Giants Snuff Blazers
Vancouver 5 Kamloops 2
Don Robinson
The Giants were ready to come out to play after dropping their last two. They brought a fast game to the ice even after a trying bus ride home on bad roads and losing an hour to daylight savings. Jonathon Blum started out the game on the wing, with rookie Bronson Maschmeyer back in the line-up on D. Justin Leclerc was very solid tonight, but eventually the Giants broke through his armour to get insurance markers they would need. Jamie Tucker was pretty close to getting his shut-out but a couple of late penalties in the third made the game closer than it should have been. Leclerc was really the only thing keeping the Blazers in the game, who played a fairly good game, but allowed more than a few odd-man rushes. James Wright opened the scoring in the first with a brilliant individual rush. Evander Kane found Wright on the opposing blue-line with a sweet pass. Wright did a very good job staying onside before driving to the net and launching the water bottle with a snap shot from in close. The Giants would not get another goal until the third and had to weather some great PP chances by the Blazers in the second before squandering their early chances with the man-advantage. Leclerc was a big part of that as he absolutely robbed Kane on a great individual foray where he drove down the side, cut around the D and lifted a back-hand cutting across the crease. A quick glove by Leclerc saved an almost sure goal.
The home team finally got their PP working at the beginning of the third at the tail-end of a penalty from the second. Garry Nunn tipped home a point shot from Blum, with Andrej Kudrna running a nice screen in front of the net. Just before the mid-way mark of the third Alex Rodgers took a great pass from Blum cutting through the slot, tipping the slap pass into the net. A great rush and sweet finish by Brendan Gallagher capped off the Giants run of unanswered goals. Dulle and Bubnick scored for the Blazers as they took advantage of their second 5 on 3 advantage of the game, breaking Tucker’s shut-out bid and making the Giants happy they had those insurance markers. Kane tipped home a Mischa Fisenko shot into the empty net and then apologized to the Russian forward for stealing his goal. Kane was rushing to the net with his stick on the ice and deflected the puck, which was probably going into the net anyway, across the goal-line.
No fisticuffs in the game and a ton of penalties called, most of the soft variety, but in the end it was at least balanced if not well officiated. The Giants went 2 for 7 on the PP, while the Blazers were 2 for 8. A few of the Giants penalties were undisciplined retaliation penalties when they got tired of being worked over, which happened a lot in this game. Kane seems to be battling traffic and is rarely without an opponent jerseyed back-pack in tow, quite frequently with a hand on his stick or arm. I personally would like to see him get the benefit of the doubt on those plays, but that’s also the cross that skill players bear in the game, so he better get used to it as it’ll be happening at all levels. The Giants got scoring from throughout their line-up and their patience paid off as they kept going to the net to get the goals. CPZ looked soft again tonight, floating a bit and standing still a good portion of the time. I’m hoping it’s just fatigue and not the fact that he is one of those great regular season players who can’t seem to make the jump to playoff level hockey. The Giants will need him to be at his best in the playoffs or they could find themselves in tough.
The G-Men gained two points tonight and are now one point behind Calgary for top spot in the Dub. The Hitmen don’t play again until next weekend and the Giants have three games this week to take the crown. Run the table and they take it. Lose one and they will need to have Calgary stumble to get the nod. Today’s game was part one of a home and home series versus the Blazers. The Giants play the Blazers in Kamloops on Wednesday. The puck drops at 7pm PDT.
Three Stars
1) Jonathon Blum
2) Brendan Gallagher
3) Alex Rodgers