dondo
04-14-2010, 01:23 AM
Solid road game, the Giants have yet to lose on the road, but that stat will be tested on Friday as they face the Americans for the Western Final. Mark Segal bounced back and put together a solid outing. The Giants were better around their own net and at the other end of the ice. Real two-way playoff hockey, with commitment to taking care of the lanes and their own end of the ice first and the other end second. Close checking and a very solid, patient shut-down game. Henry and Vincour looked great tonight and Wrighter, Gally and Cunner were a threat at times as well.
Curious to see how the Giants match up versus the Americans in these playoffs. Are they going to be able to make Owsley look ordinary as they did to the Portland and Kamloops goaltenders? Goal is still a question mark, but slowly (very slowly) becoming less of one, but the inconsistency of Segal still drives me mental.
Giants Punt Portland
Rd 2 Game 6: Vancouver 3 Portland 1
Don Robinson
It was a special teams night as the Giants got solid goaltending and played shut down hockey, limiting the Hawks chances and working very hard on the forecheck and back check. The zebras called some seriously soft stuff on both sides of the puck and proved they lacked any balls whatsoever. All of goals came either on the PP or PK. The Giants opened the scoring SH in the first. The Hawks replied on the same PP. In the second the Giants had a goal waived off, but ended up taking the lead on the PP shortly thereafter. The visitors added another one in the third and were able to hold onto the victory and clinch the series. Not a lot of real rough stuff in this one as the Winterhawks went down with very little fight, losing their 6th straight home game in these playoffs and failing to get even one win at home in the post-season. It's shame for their fans after having had so many poor seasons and owner/management grief recently to finally have their team make the playoffs and then not see a home win.
Brendan Gallagher scored his ninth of the campaign, taking a nice feed off the rush from James Henry. The goal came short-handed. The Winterhawks got it back almost immediately though, getting the puck past Mark Segal on the same PP. Nino Niederreiter got his eighth of the post-season. The Giants were out shot in the first and did not have their best period. The Portland squad could not take advantage and would regret it. A goal was waived off in the second when the Giants brought the puck to the net. Craig Cunningham skating to the net had it go in off his skate. The call on the ice was a goal, but going upstairs it was determined to be kicked in, even though the skate never left the ice and a clear kicking motion is not seen on video replay. The Giants were able to make a PP not much later count for them. Tomas Vincour deflected a James Wright shot past Mac Carruth, for the go-ahead goal. James Henry found the net with a PP marker in the third to put the game away and clinch the series. Kevin Connauton and Milan Kytnar (who should have got a second assist on the Vincour goal) got the helpers.
The Winterhawks out shot the Giants 33-29 in the game. They went 1 for 5 on their PP, while the G’s managed to get 2 for 4 to go for them. The Giants played a very solid two-way game tonight, not the most scintillating hockey to be sure but it got the job done. The Winterhawks were not able to get their scoring machine going and although Segal didn’t have to be great, he was good turning away 32 shots and keeping his team in there after putting in a less than excellent outing on Saturday. Carruth who was so good in the Spokane series met his match in the Giants snipers, who picked him apart for the majority of games. The Giants head straight to Kennewick tonight or tomorrow from Portland to get ready for their third straight Western Conference final series. They are hoping to get through to the WHL finals this year as the winner of the West now has a better than average chance of getting to the Mem Cup. Game 1 of the Western Finals takes place in Kennewick vs the Tri-City Americans on Friday April 16th. Puck drops at 7:05 pm local time.
Three Stars
1. Tomas Vincour
2. Nino Niederreiter
3. James Henry
Curious to see how the Giants match up versus the Americans in these playoffs. Are they going to be able to make Owsley look ordinary as they did to the Portland and Kamloops goaltenders? Goal is still a question mark, but slowly (very slowly) becoming less of one, but the inconsistency of Segal still drives me mental.
Giants Punt Portland
Rd 2 Game 6: Vancouver 3 Portland 1
Don Robinson
It was a special teams night as the Giants got solid goaltending and played shut down hockey, limiting the Hawks chances and working very hard on the forecheck and back check. The zebras called some seriously soft stuff on both sides of the puck and proved they lacked any balls whatsoever. All of goals came either on the PP or PK. The Giants opened the scoring SH in the first. The Hawks replied on the same PP. In the second the Giants had a goal waived off, but ended up taking the lead on the PP shortly thereafter. The visitors added another one in the third and were able to hold onto the victory and clinch the series. Not a lot of real rough stuff in this one as the Winterhawks went down with very little fight, losing their 6th straight home game in these playoffs and failing to get even one win at home in the post-season. It's shame for their fans after having had so many poor seasons and owner/management grief recently to finally have their team make the playoffs and then not see a home win.
Brendan Gallagher scored his ninth of the campaign, taking a nice feed off the rush from James Henry. The goal came short-handed. The Winterhawks got it back almost immediately though, getting the puck past Mark Segal on the same PP. Nino Niederreiter got his eighth of the post-season. The Giants were out shot in the first and did not have their best period. The Portland squad could not take advantage and would regret it. A goal was waived off in the second when the Giants brought the puck to the net. Craig Cunningham skating to the net had it go in off his skate. The call on the ice was a goal, but going upstairs it was determined to be kicked in, even though the skate never left the ice and a clear kicking motion is not seen on video replay. The Giants were able to make a PP not much later count for them. Tomas Vincour deflected a James Wright shot past Mac Carruth, for the go-ahead goal. James Henry found the net with a PP marker in the third to put the game away and clinch the series. Kevin Connauton and Milan Kytnar (who should have got a second assist on the Vincour goal) got the helpers.
The Winterhawks out shot the Giants 33-29 in the game. They went 1 for 5 on their PP, while the G’s managed to get 2 for 4 to go for them. The Giants played a very solid two-way game tonight, not the most scintillating hockey to be sure but it got the job done. The Winterhawks were not able to get their scoring machine going and although Segal didn’t have to be great, he was good turning away 32 shots and keeping his team in there after putting in a less than excellent outing on Saturday. Carruth who was so good in the Spokane series met his match in the Giants snipers, who picked him apart for the majority of games. The Giants head straight to Kennewick tonight or tomorrow from Portland to get ready for their third straight Western Conference final series. They are hoping to get through to the WHL finals this year as the winner of the West now has a better than average chance of getting to the Mem Cup. Game 1 of the Western Finals takes place in Kennewick vs the Tri-City Americans on Friday April 16th. Puck drops at 7:05 pm local time.
Three Stars
1. Tomas Vincour
2. Nino Niederreiter
3. James Henry