Hockey
Giants Shock T-Birds
The Vancouver Giants managed to pull off a 4-1 victory against Seattle while playing in front of 8,684 fans recording their 17th win of the season. Carter Popoff opened the scoring at 11:25 of the first on the PP marker after taking a pass from McEvoy and Atwal giving them a 1-0 lead.
The Giants owned the first and if not for the exceptional play of T-Birds “tender” Brandon Glover the game might have been out of reach for the visitors south of the 49th. Vancouver added to their lead in the second as Rouse gave the Giants a 2-0 lead; again on the PP extending the lead to 2-0 with assists went to Kulak and Franson.
Before the period was over Seattle managed to get one back off the stick of Delnov with helpers going to Theodore and Smith.
The Giants held a 2-1 heading into the final period with shots through 40 minutes being 26-14 in favour of the Giants. Payton Lee was tested several times in the third but came up huge managing to preserve the 2-1 Vancouver lead with the “Birds” pressing for the equalizer, only to be turned away by Payton Lee.
Kulak beat T-Bird “keeper” Brandon Glover to give the Giants a 3-1 lead and with a short 1:49 remaining Franson managed to sink one in the gaping net sending the fans home happy with the overall performance.
Shots were 34-24 for Giants as goalie Payton Lee kicked out 23 shots allowing him to be named the games first star.
Brendan Rouse of the T-Birds was named second star while Giants Arvin Atwal nailed third spot.
Friday see’s the Giants host “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe’s 85th Birthday bash.
On hand were Hall of Famers Bobby and Dennis Hull, Jean Beliveau, Johnny Bower and Orland Kurtenbach and Marcel Dionne taking part in the festivities prior to game time.