Palmer 35 Saves Defeat’s Giants On Family Day

Locally the Vancouver Giants played host to the Victoria Royals on Family Day that saw over 3,000 fans at the Langley Events Centre who were looking for the G-men to pull out a win.

This was the 8th meeting in 10 season games that saw the Royals sail away with a 3-0 shutout managing a 35 save performance from Royal’s “tender” Tyler Palmer, his 2nd this shutout this season. 

The game’s opening period early in the opening period the teams played on even keel with both teams having time in each other’s zone and starting goalkeepers Jesper Vikman of the Giants and Tyler Palmer of the Royals both being sharp in a scoreless game. 

The Royal’s first chance to open the scoring came while on the PP with Justin Lies serving a boarding minor at 12:38 forcing Vikman to come up with a couple of key saves that saw the Royal’s outshoot the Giants 12-10. 

Vancouver managed to get their first PP of the game while Royals Matthew Hudon was serving a hooking minor at 2:55 that saw Tyler Palmer come up with key saves keeping the game scoreless. 

Giant’s Fabian Lysell was assessed a slashing minor allowing the Royal’s to open the scoring that saw Bailey Peach give the Royals a 1-0 lead at 6:36 while Royal’s Captain Tarun Fizer and Gagnon Laroque grabbed assists.

As if one wasn’t enough they added their second at 9:29 that saw Caleb Willms send one over the shoulder of Vikman as assists went t o Riley Gagnon and Keanu Derungs.

Two plus one adds up to three and that’s what the Royal’s managed a short 1:04 later that saw Riley Gagnon score while assists went to Keanu Derungs and Caleb Willms with each team trading 20 shots.

The Royal’s continued to play the perfect road game in the third with a solid defensive managing to clog the middle taking any attack away from the Giants 

Victoria continued to get chances in the Giants zone to expand their lead forcing Jesper Vikman to come up huge to keep them in the game over their BC division rivals causing a huge problem for the Giants offense frustration in the afternoon matinee. 

The Royals late PP at 15:57 added to their lead of the final period leading 3-0 over Vancouver managing to get some excellent chances against Jesper Vikman who was forced to turn them aside.

Vikman was pulled with 1:40 remaining in hopes of getting at least one on the board breaking the SO but the Royals “D” proved too much for the G-men that saw the Royals defeat Vancouver for the 8 time in 10 game’s.

The final score on “Family Day” saw Victoria improve to 14-30-4-1 with 33 points staying within 7 of the Giants who fell to 19-25-2-0 with 40 points sitting in 7th place, while Victoria moved into an 8th place tie with the Tricity Americans for the final playoff spot. 

Shots through 60 minutes were 35-27 for Vancouver, but this wasn’t enough to gain ground on the Royals Tyler Palmer who got his 2nd shutout of the season. 

Vancouver hits the ice Friday night facing the same Victoria Royals at the LEC at 7:35 pm with a ferry ride the following day at Save On Foods set for 7:01 pm.

The win also saw Royals Keanu Derungs’ play in his 100th career WHL game, all have been in a Royal’s uniform.