Make it five straight road victories and three straight wins all together for the Vancouver Giants. Friday night in Lethbridge the G-Men earned a 5-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Tyler Benson scored twice while his linemate Ty Ronning had a goal and two assists.
David Tendeck backstopped the Giants to victory turning aside 33 of the 35 shots fired his way. Jordy Bellerive had a goal and an assist in response for Lethbridge.
Both teams found the score sheet in the first period. Lethbridge got on the board first when Jordy Bellerive parked himself in front of David Tendeck and tipped home a Calen Addison point shot for his team-leading 23rd goal of the season.
Late in the period the Giants replied when Kannok Leipert hammered his first of the game from the point that snuck past “Canes” starter Stuart Skinner and his second of the season was assisted by Malm and Watts.
The Hurricanes outshot the G-men after one by a 12-9 margin but the game was deadlocked at one.
The second saw the teams combine for three goals in a span of 1:59 that saw Benson give the G-men a brief 2-1 at 4:30 with the helper going to Malm.
A short 1:20 later the “Canes” tied the game when Tendeck was beat over his right shoulder, but this was short-lived as a short 39 seconds later the Giants regained their lead, naturally it was Benson that got the marker for the G-men.
Benson finished off a backhand deke for his second of the night and 17th of the season.
Lethbridge fought hard but Tendeck made some exceptional saves with the teams headed to the dressing room with shots (10-7) in favour of Lethbridge but trailing 3-2 after 40 minutes of play.
The third saw the Giants gain some insurance when Ronning notched one while on the PP and the the Giants closing the game one-for-four while the PK.
Final shots saw Lethbridge outshoot the G-men by a 35-26 margin, but dropping the contest for only the seventh time (at home) all season.
The G-men improved their road record to 10-7-2-2 and their overall record to 22-14-3-2.
With the victory the Giants remain one point ahead of the Victoria Royals for second in the B.C. Division but are now within two points of the conference leading Kelowna Rockets for first place.
NOTES:
- The Giants are now 16-0-0-0 when leading after 40 minutes.
- In his past five games, Brayden Watts has a goal and six assists for seven points.
- David Tendeck has won each of his last five road starts in goal.
Giants Making Noise
Giants GM Glen Hanlon announced the Giants acquired 1997-born D-man Brennan Riddle (Balgonie, SK) for 1997-born forward Brad Morrison.
Riddle (6’2” 197 lbs) a D-man shoots left has appeared in 216 career WHL games (With PA and Lethbridge).
During that span he’s collected five goals, 29 assists and 167 penalty minutes. In 37 games this season he’s scored once and added five assists.
Last season he registered four goals and 14 assists for 18 points in 71 games and added another goal and three assists in 20 playoff games.
Brad Morrison was originally acquired by the Giants in June in a trade with the Prince George Cougars.
In 42 games this season he scored 11 goals and added 24 assists for 35 points. In 302 career WHL games he’s registered 96 goals and 127 assists for 223 points.
