PREVIEW: Giants Host Oil Kings for First Time Since 2019
PHOTO BY: ROB WILTON
Langley, B.C. – Tonight the Vancouver Giants (13-18-2-0) host a rare opponent at the Langley Events Centre, as the Edmonton Oil Kings (10-20-0-1) visit for the first time since November 23, 2019, which was 1,497 days ago.
Vancouver is coming off a 4-2 defeat on Wednesday to Victoria, a game in which they out-chanced the visitors significantly, but surrendered three power play goals.
Edmonton began their longest road trip of the season on Wednesday night by taking down the Prince George Cougars 6-4. It was their first road win since November 15.
Vancouver currently sits in eighth place in the Western Conference, while Edmonton is in last place in the Eastern Conference.
HOW TO TUNE IN
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LAST TIME OUT
The Vancouver Giants out-played the Victoria Royals by a significant margin at even-strength on Wednesday night, but fell 4-2 after allowing three power play goals and going 0-for-6 on the power play.
Ty Halaburda (12th) and Tyler Thorpe (team-leading 15th) scored for the Giants.
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
The Giants played the Oil Kings once last season on the road, a 2-1 win on October 27, 2022 at Rogers Place, where Mazden Leslie had the game-winning-goal. Colton Langkow had the other goal for Vancouver in that win, with both goals coming on the power play. Brett Mirwald picked up the win in a 31-save performance.
Before that game, it had been nearly three years since the two clubs had met. On Nov. 23, 2019, the Giants beat the Oil Kings 5-4 in overtime, where Justin Sourdif scored the OT winner. In the previous five head-to-head games dating back to 2017, the Giants are 4-1 against Edmonton.
Friday also marks the return of former Giant Skyler Bruce, who was traded to Edmonton earlier this season. The 20-year-old forward had three assists in Wednesday’s win and is currently riding a five-game point streak (3G-4A).
The Oil Kings had a busy week, making two major trades on Wednesday.
First, they sent 2005-born defenceman Vojtech Port, 2004-born forward Rilen Kovacevic and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for 2006-born forward Andrej Tomasec, a 2025 first-round pick, a conditional 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick.
Second, they acquired 2005-born forward Gracyn Sawchyn, 2007-born forward Lukas Sawchyn and 2008-born defenceman Tracen Ashley from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for 2004-born forward Nathan Pilling and seven picks, including a 2026 first-round pick, two second-round picks and two third-round picks.
Gracyn Sawchyn, a second-round pick by the Florida Panthers, and Tomasec are both expected to make their Oil Kings debuts tonight.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| VANCOUVER | STAT | EDMONTON |
| 13-19-2-0 (28 Pts) | RECORD | 10-20-0-1 (21 Pts) |
| 4th | DIV. RANK | 6th |
| 8th | CONF. RANK | 11th |
| 4-6-0-0 | PAST 10 | 4-6-0-0 |
| 1L | STREAK | 2W |
| 7-9-2-0 | HOME | 6-13-0-1 |
| 6-10-0-0 | AWAY | 4-7-0-0 |
| 94 (2.76 – 20th) | GF (/G) | 94 (3.03 – 18th) |
| 130 (3.82 – 18th) | GA (/G) | 146 (4.71 – 22nd) |
| 24-for-122 (19.7%) | PP% | 26-for-147 (17.7%) |
| 123-for-156 (78.8%) | PK% | 97-for-134 (72.4%) |
| Lipinski (11-19-30)
Halaburda (12-18-30) Thorpe (15-10-25) |
LEADERS | Lajoie (10-15-25)
Hodnett (5-20-25) Sawchyn (6-15-21) |
WHAT ARE WE WEARING
The Giants will be wearing their reds tonight, which will now be worn for most home games.
SEASON SERIES VS. EDMONTON (0-0-0; 1 H2H)
| DATE | LOCATION | RESULT/TIME |
| Dec. 29, 2023 | LEC | 7:00 pm PST |
NEXT 5 GAMES
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | TIME |
| Dec. 31, 2023 | at Portland | Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 5:00 pm PST |
| Jan. 3, 2024 | vs. Calgary | LEC | 7:00 pm PST |
| Jan. 6, 2024 | at Brandon | Westoba Place | 5:00 pm PST |
| Jan. 9, 2024 | at Prince Albert | Art Hauser Centre | 5:00 pm PST |
| Jan. 10, 2024 | at Saskatoon | Sasktel Centre | 5:00 pm PST |
