PREVIEW: Giants Look to Build Off Comeback Win on Friday in Rematch vs. Royals

PHOTO BY: ROB WILTON

Victoria, B.C. – Tonight the Vancouver Giants (19-24-2-0) play the second of three straight against the Victoria Royals (24-16-3-3), looking to build off their come-from-behind 5-3 victory last night at the LEC.

The season series now favours the Giants 3-2, though four of the five head-to-head games thus far have been played in Langley. Vancouver is now 6-3 in 2024, while the Royals have only one win in their last eight (1-3-3-1).

HOW TO TUNE IN Date | Time  Saturday, January 27 | 6:05 pm PT Place Save on Foods Memorial Arena Video Stream watch.chl.ca Listen Sportsnet 650 | ALT STREAM ONLY – Pre-Game begins at 5:30 p.m. Live Stats Click Here Social Media Twitter | Facebook  | Instagram | TikTok

LAST TIME OUT

The Vancouver Giants erased a 3-0 deficit on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre, scoring five consecutive times to come from behind and top the Victoria Royals 5-3.

The Giants got a pair of goals from Jaden Lipinski (13th, 14th), plus single tallies from Wyatt Wilson (1st), Cameron Schmidt (14th) and Tyson Zimmer (14th).

Brett Mirwald was steady with 30 saves on 33 shots, picking up his 16th win of the season. The Giants penalty kill came up big early in the third period with two kills and finished 4-for-5 on the night.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

This is the sixth of eight head-to-head meetings this season, with the Giants currently leading the season series 3-2.

The Giants grabbed victories on opening night by a score of 4-1, on the road on Oct. 28 by a score of 3-2 (in a shootout) and then last night by a score 5-3. Victoria won 3-2 on Oct. 27 and 4-2 on Dec. 27, both at the LEC.

One player to watch from the Giants is forward Cameron Schmidt, who has goals in three straight games (4G-1A last 3 GP) and 10 points in his last 10 games (5G-5A).

One player to watch from the Royals is Justin Kipkie, who had a goal and an assist last night and sits 8th in defensive scoring in the WHL with 38 points (13G-25A).

The Giants are 6-3 since the calendar flipped to 2024 and they currently sit in 7th place in the Western Conference Standings. The Royals are 2-3-3-1 in 2024 and currently sit in 5th place in the West.

TALE OF THE TAPE

VANCOUVER	STAT	VICTORIA
19-24-2-0 (40 Pts)	RECORD	24-16-3-3 (54 Pts)
4th	DIV. RANK	2nd
7th	CONF. RANK	5th
6-4-0-0	PAST 10	3-3-3-1
2W	STREAK	2L
10-10-2-0	HOME	14-6–0-1
9-14-0-0	AWAY	10-10-3-2
131 (2.91 – 20th)	GF (/G)	158 (3.43 – 13th)
173 (3.84 – 14th)	GA (/G)	169 (3.67 – 11th)
33-for-153 (21.6%)	PP%	34-for-176 (19.3%)
153-for-194 (78.9%)	PK%	143-for-183 (78.1%)
Halaburda (15-26-41) Lipinski (14-27-41) Thorpe (21-17-38)	LEADERS	Pasternak (18-28-46) Scott (17-27-44) Laventure (18-24-42)

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