PREVIEW: Giants Close Out 3-in-3 This Afternoon vs. Thunderbirds

PHOTO BY: ROB WILTON

Langley, B.C. – This afternoon the Vancouver Giants (28-27-4-0) go for the season series sweep against the Seattle Thunderbirds (22-35-2-0) in a 4 p.m. matinee at the Langley Events Centre.

The Giants remain in 6th place in the Western Conference standings with 60 points, but they are still looking for their first win of the weekend, following a 4-3 overtime loss to Kelowna on Friday and a 3-2 loss to Kamloops on the road on Saturday. Vancouver is, however, 9-0-1- in their last 10 home games.

Seattle had their three-game winning streak snapped last night at home, falling 4-2 to the Moose Jaw Warriors. They had previously beaten Kamloops twice and Regina. The Thunderbirds currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference.

Both teams will be playing their third game in three days. Seattle is 4-6 in their last 10, while the Giants are 6-3-1.

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HOW TO TUNE IN Date | Time  Sunday, March 3 | 4:00 pm PT Place Langley Events Centre Video Stream watch.chl.ca Listen Sportsnet 650 ALT STREAM ONLY | Pre-Game begins at 3:30 p.m. Live Stats Click Here Social Media Twitter | Facebook  | Instagram | TikTok

LAST TIME OUT

Another slow start plagued the Vancouver Giants on Saturday night in a 3-2 loss to the Kamloops Blazers.

Goaltender Matthew Hutchison was fabulous for the Giants with 44 saves, but Vancouver was unable to generate much offence until the third period, trailing the game 3-1 and getting out-shot 34-10 after 40 minutes. They did get one goal back in the final 20 minutes, but that was as close as they would come.

Sam Honzek (9th) and London Hoilett (9th) scored for the Giants.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Tonight is the fourth of four head-to-head meetings this season. Vancouver hasn’t lost yet, but all games have been close.

Vancouver’s win came on Dec. 15 (2-1 in OT), Dec. 17 (3-1) and Feb. 9 (3-1).

The player to watch from the Giants is forward Jaden Lipinski, who collected an assist on Saturday to set a new career-high with 52 points (17G-35A). Last year, the right-shot centre recorded 51 points in 66 games (17G-34A). The Calgary Flames fourth-round pick from 2023 has taken massive strides this season, most notably in his skating, and in recent weeks his strong play along the wall has made a huge difference for the Giants. The 6-foot-4 forward is also a huge asset in the face-off circle, where he is 58 per cent on draws and has won the second-most face-offs of any player in the WHL (775).

The player to watch from the Thunderbirds is defenceman Sawyer Mynio, who ranks 14th in defensive scoring in the WHL with 45 points (13G-32A). Last night, the left-shot defender scored his 13th goal of the season in a 4-2 loss to Moose Jaw. Mynio, who was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, has points in four straight games (1G-4A). Last season, the smooth-skating defenceman played a big role for the WHL Champion Thunderbirds at just 17-years-old, pitching in 31 points from the backend and registering a +50 rating in the regular season. Four of Mynio’s 13 goals this season have been game-winners.

TALE OF THE TAPE

VANCOUVER	STAT	SEATTLE
28-27-4-0 (60 Pts)	RECORD	22-35-2-0 (46 Pts)
3rd	DIV. RANK	6th
6th	CONF. RANK	10th
6-3-1-0	PAST 10	4-6-0-0
2L	STREAK	1L
16-10-3-0	HOME	11-15-2-0
12-17-1-0	AWAY	11-20-0-0
187 (3.17 – 17th)	GF (/G)	159 (2.69 – 22nd)
215 (3.64 – 12th)	GA (/G)	224 (3.80 – 14th)
43-for-202 (21.3%)	PP%	45-for-194 (23.2%)
200-for-253 (79.1%)	PK%	167-for-216 (77.3%)
Halaburda (18-35-53) Lipinski (17-35-52) Levis (19-29-48)	LEADERS	Hanzel (13-37-50) Mynio (13-32-45) Alarie (17-23-40)
98 (20th)	POINTS BY D	121 (15th)

SEASON SERIES VS. SEATTLE (3-0-0-0; 4 H2H)