Allen Douglas
B.C. Division, WHL Playoffs

Adversity and the Vancouver Giants won’t go away as the Giants get set for Game 6

Written by Giancarlo Nadeau on

 

The Giants broke the May 13 playoff curse on Friday, two years after losing to the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL Finals, and now get set for Game 6 against the Blazers. Vancouver avoided elimination on Friday with a 5-2 triumph over Kamloops earning the opportunity to return home once again to host the Blazers with a chance to send this second-round series to a Game 7. If the G-men do indeed win tonight Game 7 would be on Tuesday. The Giants are down 3-2 in the series and looking for their second win against the Blazers on home ice after splitting Games 3 and 4 at the Langley Events Centre.

Luke Toporowski opened the scoring for Kamloops on Friday night off a two-on-one rush with Logan Stanoven. Adam Hall scored for Vancouver making it the ninth time he has put the puck in the net during the post-season and the first of two goals on the night. Matthew Seminoff regained the Blazers’ one-goal lead at 10:43 of the middle frame when Matthew Seminoff (3) pounced on a puck in front of Giants goaltender Jesper Vikman. Seminoff’s goal would be the game’s final goal for the Blazers while Vancouver would go on to score four more times. Ty Thorpe tied the game at 2-2, Zack Ostapchuk scored his first of two goals while Adam Hall separated Ostapchuk’s markers. Vancouver finished the game with 26 shots, and Kamloops had 37.

The Vancouver Power Play went 1/2 while the Blazers failed to capitalize on three opportunities. Zack Ostapchuk (VAN – 2G, 2A), Matthew Seminoff (KAM – 1G), and Jesper Vikman (VAN – 35 Saves) were named the game’s three stars. Ostapchuk’s four-point night propelled him to the top of the scoring lead amongst WHL players. With seven goals and 16 assists, his 23 points are currently two points higher than Bruins prospect Fabian Lysell. Adam Hall will enter Game 6 with 10 goals which are tops among all WHL skaters in the playoffs. Logan Stankoven is tied for second with nine goals.

 

Despite Vancouver earning the victory in Game 6, the team may have suffered an incredible loss on its roster with d-man Alex Cotton leaving the game early due to an undisclosed injury. Cotton suffered from a hit late in the first period and played a few shifts in the second period before leaving the game. Vancouver already has a defenceman out of the lineup as Mazden Leslie left Game 1 in the Everett series with a lower-body injury.

Alex Cotton (D) has been a man on a mission during the post-season for Vancouver. Photo: Robert Jay

If Cotton does not play this afternoon at the LEC his absence will be tough for the G-men to deal with. With 6 goals and 10 assists in 11 games, Alex Cotton sits first in points amongst WHL defencemen with 16 points.

Vancouver has dealt with adversity since the puck hit the ice for the first time in the playoffs. The adversity that Vancouver has been faced with isn’t going anywhere and neither are the Giants. 

Vancouver will look for a victory at home today to force a Game 7 on Tuesday night in Kamloops. Game 6 is set for 4:00 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.