PREVIEW: Giants Have Opportunity to Clinch Playoff Spot Friday in PG

PHOTO BY: ROB WILTON

Prince George, B.C. – Tonight the Vancouver Giants (29-27-4-0) look to clinch a playoff spot for the fifth consecutive season (not including the cancelled 2020 playoffs and the 2021 bubble season), when they take on the Prince George Cougars (41-15-1-3) in the first of two straight at the CN Centre.

The Giants sit in sixth place in the Western Conference standings with 62 points, but they are tied with the Kelowna Rockets, who have played one more game. Vancouver is three points back of the fifth-place Victoria Royals with two games in hand.

The G-Men beat Seattle this past Sunday at home by a 5-2 score during a weekend where they went 1-1-1.

The Cougars locked up the B.C. Division with a win over Kelowna on Feb. 24 and are 8-0-1-1 in their last 10, most recently a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win over Spokane on March 2.

Vancouver will clinch a playoff berth tonight if any of the following three scenarios occurs:

• Any win at Prince George OR
• An OT/SO loss at Prince George AND a Tri-City OT/SO loss vs Wenatchee OR
• A Tri-City regulation loss vs Wenatchee

HOW TO TUNE IN Date | Time  Friday, March 8 | 7:00 pm PT Place CN Centre, Prince George Video Stream watch.chl.ca Listen Sportsnet 650 | Pre-Game begins at 6:00 p.m. Live Stats Click Here Social Media Twitter | Facebook  | Instagram | TikTok

LAST TIME OUT

The Vancouver Giants salvaged their weekend with a 5-2 win on Sunday afternoon over the Seattle Thunderbirds, helping them finish their 3-in-3 weekend with three of a possible six points.

Five different players scored for the Giants in the win: Ty Halaburda (19th), Tyson Zimmer (21st), Aaron Obobaifo (6th), Connor Levis (20th) and Cameron Schmidt (24th).

Brett Mirwald stopped 25 of 27 for his 26th win of the season, which is tied for 2nd amongst all WHL goaltenders.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Tonight is the sixth of eight head-to-head meetings this season. Vancouver is 2-3 so far in the season series.

Vancouver’s win came on Nov. 15 on the road (6-1) and Feb.2 at home (3-2), which is the most recent time these two teams clashed. The Cougars’ wins came on Nov. 14 (5-0), Nov. 17 (5-0) and Dec. 16 (9-2).

The Giants are 3-3-1 in their last seven contests, but before that had rattled off points in 10 straight, giving them a 12-3-2 record in their last 17 games. The Cougars are in the midst of an impressive point steak of their own, currently 9-0-1-1 in their last 11 games.

Depth has been a strength for Vancouver since the trade deadline and that will be key against some highly skilled offensive Cougars tonight. During the Giants’ 12-3-2 stretch, 8 different players have recorded 10 or more points: Cameron Schmidt (22 points), Connor Levis (19 points), Ty Halaburda (17 points), Jaden Lipinski (17 points), Sam Honzek (16 points), Tyson Zimmer (14 points), Adam Titlbach (11 points), and Kyren Gronick (10 points).

Prince George is led offensively by 59-goal man Zac Funk, who recently inked a three-year entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals, Riley Heidt, who – like Funk – eclipsed the 100-point mark last week, and rookie sensation Terik Parascak, who has 34 goals this season.

TALE OF THE TAPE

VANCOUVER	STAT	PRINCE GEORGE
29-27-4-0 (62 Pts)	RECORD	41-15-1-3 (86 Pts)
3rd	DIV. RANK	1st
6th	CONF. RANK	2nd
6-3-1-0	PAST 10	8-0-1-1
1W	STREAK	1W
17-10-3-0	HOME	22-7-1-1
12-17-1-0	AWAY	19-8-0-2
192 (3.20 – 16th)	GF (/G)	263 (4.38 – 2nd)
217 (3.62 – 11th)	GA (/G)	164 (2.73 – 2nd)
44-for-206 (21.4%)	PP%	75-for-248 (30.2%)
203-for-257 (79.0%)	PK%	188-for-226 (83.2%)
Halaburda (19-36-55) Lipinski (17-38-55) Levis (20-29-49)	LEADERS	Funk (59-44-103) Heidt (33-69-102) Parscak (34-53-87)
102 (20th)	POINTS BY D	175 (4th)

SEASON SERIES VS. PRINCE GEORGE (2-3-0-0; 8 H2H)