dondo
01-16-2010, 03:35 PM
Kyle Jahraus kept his team in this game early on, but the new look Giants finally solved him. Its a shame I won't be able to see the new boys live for some time as I like the acquisitions Bonner made at the deadline. The Giants got bigger while gaining a bit of skill. They still have question marks between the pipes and on the back end, but for the most part they are more like a playoff contender than they were at the beginning of last weekend. All three players acquired look and feel like Don Hay type of players and its great seeing them get a chnace contribute on a contender. the road will not be easy by any stretch though as the top teams still have their number and they have a hell of a lot of road games remaining. Time will tell, but the boys look a bit more solid with scoring physical depth and that will serve them well come playoff time. Mark Segal was very solid between the pipes in this one, earning first start honours turning away 37 of 38 for the win.
Giants Cage Cougars
Vancouver 3 Prince George 1
Don Robinson
The new look Giants with Brett Breitkruz, Tomas Vincour and Brent Henke in the line-up took to the ice in Prince George. They came up against a tough contender between the pipes though as it took ‘til late in the second for the G’s to solve the PG netminder. PPs were not at their best for either team as the Giants held the PG boys to 0 for 7, while going 0 for 3 themselves. A couple of lively bouts in the game upped the energy as the now bigger Giants team refused to be pushed around as they had been earlier in the season. Their deadline acquisitions beefed up their size and skill giving them a better playoff squad come March, while losing some solid but not essential cogs in the process and keeping their top prospects with the team. Both ‘tenders were solid in the blue-paint tonight turning away multitudes of shots and nice chances at both ends of the ice. In the third the Cougars brought all they had badly out shooting the Giants, but Mark Segal was equal to the task turning away all but 1 of 19 shots fired on him in the period. The Giants should be expecting a sweep in Prince George despite the Northern franchise’s improvements to the club over the past weeks. Friday night’s tilt should make them realize that that task will not be easy. Both squads take on one another again Saturday.
The first was played to a draw with no shortage of chances. The Giants doubled up on the home town Cougars on shots in the first, but they came up against a very sharp netminder in Kyle Jahraus. Brett Lyon and Tyler Halliday dropped the mitts as the fans were treated to a fairly even extended bout with both players throwing them well. Early in the second the boys got into a tussle early getting a raft of roughings going both ways. James Henry got a shorthanded chance, but failed to convert on the opportunity. Craig Cunningham finally found the twine just past the 16 minute mark. David Musil and Vincour got the helpers. The Giants were tagged for two penalties late in the second and it appeared as if a goal might have slipped past Segal but it was waived off as inconclusive. The moment itself was a bit weird as there was a big delay and then the goal light went on briefly. Going upstairs, the refs, who had not signalled it a goal took a long time deliberating before finally waiving it off.
The Giants potted two more in the third, while allowing one against. The Cougars were eager to play in the final frame out-shooting the Giants 19-10, but failed to get more than one by Segal who kicked out 37 of 38 on the night. Vincour scored his 18th of the season and first as a Giant early on to set the tone. Breitkruz and Nolan Toigo garnered the assists. Gallagher notched his 28th just past the mid-way mark, putting his team up 3-0. Kevin Connauton and Lance Bouma got assists. The Cougars finally solved Segal late in the period when Jaroslav Vlach tickled the twine, breaking the Giants netminder’s shut-out bid. Connauton and Taylor Makin dropped the gloves at the end of the game setting the stage for Saturday’s tilt.
The Giants barely out shot the Cougars 43-38. There was no lack of rubber fired in the game to be sure. The G’s went 0 for 3 on the PP and needed to be solid on their PK denying all of PG’s 7 PP chances. The two teams tangle again in PG in back to back games at the CN Centre. Saturday’s tilt should be a bit of a barn-burner as emotions will be high and the Cougars will be hungry to not get swept in front of their meagre smattering of around 2K fans. I was not terribly pleased with what I consider to be homer star selections on Friday night, but maybe Bidlevski went over and above in the eyes of the Cougar selectors. Tomas Vincour should have got the nod from my perspective. Puck drops on Saturday at 7pm PST.
Three Stars
1. Mark Segal
2. Kyle Jahraus
3. Art Bidlevski
Giants Cage Cougars
Vancouver 3 Prince George 1
Don Robinson
The new look Giants with Brett Breitkruz, Tomas Vincour and Brent Henke in the line-up took to the ice in Prince George. They came up against a tough contender between the pipes though as it took ‘til late in the second for the G’s to solve the PG netminder. PPs were not at their best for either team as the Giants held the PG boys to 0 for 7, while going 0 for 3 themselves. A couple of lively bouts in the game upped the energy as the now bigger Giants team refused to be pushed around as they had been earlier in the season. Their deadline acquisitions beefed up their size and skill giving them a better playoff squad come March, while losing some solid but not essential cogs in the process and keeping their top prospects with the team. Both ‘tenders were solid in the blue-paint tonight turning away multitudes of shots and nice chances at both ends of the ice. In the third the Cougars brought all they had badly out shooting the Giants, but Mark Segal was equal to the task turning away all but 1 of 19 shots fired on him in the period. The Giants should be expecting a sweep in Prince George despite the Northern franchise’s improvements to the club over the past weeks. Friday night’s tilt should make them realize that that task will not be easy. Both squads take on one another again Saturday.
The first was played to a draw with no shortage of chances. The Giants doubled up on the home town Cougars on shots in the first, but they came up against a very sharp netminder in Kyle Jahraus. Brett Lyon and Tyler Halliday dropped the mitts as the fans were treated to a fairly even extended bout with both players throwing them well. Early in the second the boys got into a tussle early getting a raft of roughings going both ways. James Henry got a shorthanded chance, but failed to convert on the opportunity. Craig Cunningham finally found the twine just past the 16 minute mark. David Musil and Vincour got the helpers. The Giants were tagged for two penalties late in the second and it appeared as if a goal might have slipped past Segal but it was waived off as inconclusive. The moment itself was a bit weird as there was a big delay and then the goal light went on briefly. Going upstairs, the refs, who had not signalled it a goal took a long time deliberating before finally waiving it off.
The Giants potted two more in the third, while allowing one against. The Cougars were eager to play in the final frame out-shooting the Giants 19-10, but failed to get more than one by Segal who kicked out 37 of 38 on the night. Vincour scored his 18th of the season and first as a Giant early on to set the tone. Breitkruz and Nolan Toigo garnered the assists. Gallagher notched his 28th just past the mid-way mark, putting his team up 3-0. Kevin Connauton and Lance Bouma got assists. The Cougars finally solved Segal late in the period when Jaroslav Vlach tickled the twine, breaking the Giants netminder’s shut-out bid. Connauton and Taylor Makin dropped the gloves at the end of the game setting the stage for Saturday’s tilt.
The Giants barely out shot the Cougars 43-38. There was no lack of rubber fired in the game to be sure. The G’s went 0 for 3 on the PP and needed to be solid on their PK denying all of PG’s 7 PP chances. The two teams tangle again in PG in back to back games at the CN Centre. Saturday’s tilt should be a bit of a barn-burner as emotions will be high and the Cougars will be hungry to not get swept in front of their meagre smattering of around 2K fans. I was not terribly pleased with what I consider to be homer star selections on Friday night, but maybe Bidlevski went over and above in the eyes of the Cougar selectors. Tomas Vincour should have got the nod from my perspective. Puck drops on Saturday at 7pm PST.
Three Stars
1. Mark Segal
2. Kyle Jahraus
3. Art Bidlevski