The Vancouver Giants (48-15-2-2) clinched the regular season Western Conference crown after getting by the Kelowna Rockets (27-32-6-2) by a score of 2-1 in the last game at the Langley Events Centre before playoffs.
Kelowna came into the game playing for their season, being only one point ahead of the Kamloops Blazers for the third and final playoff spot in the BC Division with two games remaining for both teams.
The two teams kept a good pace for the most part of the opening frame, with the Giants initiating a solid forecheck and keeping the visiting Rockets hemmed in their own zone on a couple of occasions.
Despite outshooting the Rockets 13-5 in the first period, the only ink needed on the scoresheet was for a faceoff violation penalty assessed to Giants forward Evan Patrician that was eventually killed off.
Washington Capitals draft pick Alex Kannok-Leipert finally gave the game its first goal with a wrist shot from the top of the circles that just squeezed past Rockets goaltender Roman Basran for his fifth of the season. The quick start to the period slowly wore off with the visiting team showing that they were a team of desperation for that last playoff spot with their physicality and urgency, outshooting the Giants 11-10 in the second.
“We didn’t really like our second period all that much and I thought we locked it down in the third but we’ve found a way to win all year long,” head coach Michael Dyck said about his team’s game.
Kelowna’s Kyle Crosbie evened the game up about seven and a half minutes later with an odd goal that took a bounce off Bowen Byram’s stick and found a way past Trent Miner for a goal he’d like to have back, to make it 1-1 after 40 minutes which made for an exciting finish to the night.
Just when many may have thought they’d be seeing free hockey, the Giants finally got their first power play of the game at the 16:23 mark. Vancouver wasted no time getting the man advantage going when just 27 seconds later, fourth year Giant Dylan Plouffe wristed a shot that had eyes and scored the eventual Conference-clinching goal in front of a crowd of 4560, the largest crowd this season at the LEC.
“Got pretty lucky there, went off a skate, but sometimes things happen like that and you get lucky with a goal, I was ecstatic,” Dylan Plouffe commented when asked about the game-winning goal.
The Sherwood Park, AB native, who has goals in his last two games, commented on his individual success coming with team success.
“Individual success comes with your team’s success, that’s something I’ve always put an emphasis on. If you’re helping your team win, things are going to happen well for you, and that’s what’s happening now. We’re playing consistent hockey.”
Now with the conference locked up, the Giants will be facing the Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round of the playoffs, starting next Friday at the LEC.
“That division (U.S.) is such a good division that whether it was Tri-City or Seattle we knew were going to be in tough. They’re (Seattle) a hard working team, they’re a physical team. It should be a great series,” Dyck said about their upcoming playoff opponent.
The season series between Seattle and Vancouver was 2-2-0-0 with the Giants just coming off a 5-1 victory in Kent, Washington this past Tuesday.
“Exciting. That rink in Kent is something you can only describe, it’s awesome in there. Here too, it’s going to be jam packed, going into the playoffs, it’s the time of year every hockey player kind of dreams of and you look forward to it in the regular season, we’re all excited in there;” said Plouffe about facing Seattle in the playoffs.
Playoff dates are set!!
Round 1: Giants vs. Thunderbirds
?: https://t.co/P6m1wmjZKQ pic.twitter.com/EK3OqXNZDL— xy – Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 16, 2019
The Giants wrap up the regular season Saturday night in Kelowna for the tail end of a home and home.
Giant Thoughts
- Vancouver went 1/1 on the power play tonight to bring it to 24.3% which is good for fourth in the WHL.
- The Giants killed off their only penalty to increase their PK% to 84.8% which is second in the WHL.
- Coach Michael Dyck confirmed Milos Roman will return to the lineup for Saturday’s season finale in Kelowna after missing games due to exams in Slovakia.
Giants Awards
The team named their team awards ahead of Friday’s game:
Player’s Choice Award: Alex Kannok-Leipert
Plus-Minus Award: Bowen Byram
High School Scholastic Player of the Year: Trent Miner
Post-Secondary Academic Player of the Year: Alex Kannok-Leipert
Three Stars Award: Milos Roman, Bowen Byram, David Tendeck
Humanitarian of the Year Award: Jared Dmytriw
Inspirational Leadership Award: Owen Hardy
Graduating Player Awards: Davis Koch, Dallas Hines, Jared Dmytriw
Most Improved Player Award: Trent Miner
Most Sportsmanlike Player Award: Brayden Watts
Rookie of the Year Award: Justin Sourdif
Defenceman of the Year Award: Bowen Byram
Iron Man Award: Davis Koch
Unsung Hero Award: Dylan Plouffe
Top Scorer Award: Davis Koch
Most Valuable Player Award: Bowen Byram
