Giants Wrap Up Three-In-Three With a 5-4 Home Loss to the Rockets
Sunday afternoon at the Langley Events Centre in front of 2814 strong the Vancouver Giants (20-28-3-0) dropped a 5-4 regulation decision to the visiting Kelowna Rockets (34-14-1-3). Mark Liwiski scored twice, including the game-winner with 3:39 left in the third period to lift the Rockets to their second victory in as many nights over the Giants. Andrew Cristall added a goal and two assists for Kelowna. Ethan Semeniuk, Tom Cadieux, Connor Horning and Jaden Lipinski responded with goals for the Giants who managed one point of an available six during their weekend three-in-three.
GIANTS DROP SUNDAY AFTERNOON MATCHUP AT HOME
1st Period:
KEL – 1:32 into the game, Gabriel Szturc opened the scoring for the Rockets in close on a backhand deke. Andrew Cristall had the lone assist.
KEL – 32 seconds later at 2:04 Turner McMillen converted off the rush along the left-wing with both Gabriel Szturc and Andrew Cristall securing assists.
VAN – Exactly five minutes later at 7:04, Giants rookie Ethan Semeniuk won a foot race to a puck, skated in alone, and tucked home a backhand deke for his sixth goal of the season. It came unassisted and moved the Giants within one.
VAN – At 14:40, Connor Horning’s point shot found its way through traffic and home to even the score at 2-2. Horning’s ninth came via the power play and was set up by Payton Mount and Ty Thorpe.
VAN – The power play was not done. At 18:17 Tom Cadieux (3) put the Giants ahead by a goal when his shot from the point hit the back bar of the net, and bounced quickly out. The referee originally signalled no goal – But after video review the goal would stand, and the Giants had a 3-2 lead.
Shots: 11-10 Vancouver
2nd Period:
*Talyn Boyko replaced Jari Kykkanen in the Kelowna goal to start the second period.
KEL – At 6:44 of the second period Andrew Cristall (19) notched his third point of the night on a shot from the slot that snuck past Will Gurski. The lone helper came from Elias Carmichael.
KEL – At 16:02 of the second, Mark Liwiski was awarded a penalty shot which would eventually result in the go-ahead goal for Kelowna. Liwiski skated wide down the left, cut back to the middle, and finished a backhander over Will Gurski’s left pad to give Kelowna a shorthanded penalty shot goal and a 4-3 lead.
Shots: 14-9 Kelowna
3rd Period:
VAN – Rookie Jaden Lipinski evened the score at 4-4 when a gorgeous individual effort that started along the left wing, before he cut to the front of the net with a power move, and stuffed his third goal of the season home. Lipinski’s goal was unassisted.
KEL – The game’s final goal came at 16:21 off the stick of Mark Liwiski. The over-age forward pounced on a defensive zone turnover, cut in front of the Giants goal, and tucked one past Will Gurski to give the Rockets their third and final lead of the night. Tyson Feist and Jake Lee both assisted.
Shots: 11-11
GAME SUMMARY
Final Score: Kelowna 5 – Vancouver 4
Final Shots: 35 – 31 Kelowna
Will Gurski: 30/35 Saves for Vancouver
Jari Kykkanen: 8/11 Saves for Kelowna
Talyn Boyko: 19/20 Saves for Kelowna
Vancouver Power Play: 2/5
Kelowna Power Play: 0/4
3 Stars:
- Mark Liwiski (KEL – 2G)
- Jaden Lipinski (VAN – 1G)
- Andrew Cristall (KEL – 1G, 2A)
Next Giants Game: Wednesday evening in Spokane at 7:05 PM.
NOTES
- Jaden Lipinski has scored in each of his previous two games for the Giants. Tonight’s goal marked his first home goal of his WHL career.
- Cole Shepard extended his point streak to five games thanks to his assist in the first period. In that span he’s recorded three goals and three assists for six points.
- Giants goaltenders are now 2/4 facing penalty shots this season.
- Despite the loss, the Vancouver Giants remain two points ahead of the Prince George Cougars for sixth place in the Western Conference playoff standings.
