PREVIEW: Vancouver Giants at Kelowna Rockets (Game #64)
Tonight in Kelowna the Vancouver Giants continue their three-in-three weekend with the first of a Saturday-Sunday road double-header tilt with the Kelowna Rockets. It’s a quick turnaround for Michael Dyck’s crew who are looking to bounce back from a 7-2 defeat last night at home against Portland. It was the seventh straight loss for Vancouver. Meanwhile the Kelowna Rockets were idle last night and will look to secure their sixth straight victory when they take to the ice tonight.
KELOWNA ROCKETS
OVERVIEW
Record: 39-19-1-5
Home Record: 23-5-0-3
Last Game: A 4-1 victory on the road Wednesday in Prince George
Last 10: 5-4-0-1
Goals For/Goals Against: 234 GF/197 GA (+37)
Power Play: 24.7% (6th)
Penalty Kill: 77.3% (16th)
Leading Scorers: Pavel Novak (28-42-70), Colton Dach (26-42-68), Andrew Cristall (24-36-60)
WHAT’S UP DACH?
2003-born forward Colton Dach has enjoyed a terrific first season with the Kelowna Rockets. The 2021 second-round pick/signee of the Chicago Blackhawks comes into tonight’s game with 68 points (24G, 42A) which ranks him second on the team behind only Pavel Novak. The 6’4″ forward has points in each of his past five games which also coincides with a winning streak for the Rockets. In that span he’s produced five goals and eight assists for 13 points. In seven games against Vancouver, Dach has three goals and four assists for seven points.
WHAT THE STANDINGS SAY
With only four regular season games remaining on their schedule, the Kelowna Rockets can finish no better than fourth in the Western Conference standings. Fortunately for them, fourth place is still doable. Heading into action tonight the Rockets are only two points back of Seattle who will almost certainly be Kelowna’s first-round playoff opponent. Three of Kelowna’s final four games are against Vancouver and the other one is against Prince George on April 16th.
ROCKET NOTES
- Kelowna is 5-3-1-0 against Vancouver this season altogether.
- At home the Rockets are 2-1-1-0 against Vancouver.
- Andrew Cristall leads all Kelowna skaters with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points against the Giants.
- Gabriel Szturc leads Kelowna with five goals against Vancouver.
- Kelowna’s power play is 8/31 this season against the Giants.
- Talyn Boyko is 4-1-1-0 against Vancouver with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.
VANCOUVER GIANTS
OVERVIEW
Record: 23-36-4-0
Road Record: 13-17-1-0
Last Game: A 7-2 home loss last night against Portland
Last 10: 2-7-1-0
Goals For/Goals Against: 174 GF/230 GA (-56)
Power Play: 17.6% (18th)
Penalty Kill: 76.1% (18th)
Leading Scorers: Fabian Lysell (21-35-56), Ty Thorpe (16-28-44), Zack Ostapchuk (20-16-36)
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
The Vancouver Giants kicked off their weekend with a 7-2 loss at home against the Portland Winterhawks. Fabian Lysell factored in on both Giants goals with two assists, and now has a team-leading 17 multi-point games and 56 points (21G, 35A). Captain Zack Ostapchuk scored his 20th goal of the season, getting him to that mark for the first time in his WHL career. Rookie defenceman Mazden Leslie supplied the other goal for the Giants, giving him four now on the season. Despite the loss, the Giants lost no ground in the playoff picture as the Victoria Royals also lost in regulation.
THE SEASON SERIES/SCOREBOARD REALITY
The Vancouver Giants are 4-4-1-0 against Kelowna so far this season. Ty Thorpe (4G, 5A) and Fabian Lysell (3G, 6A) have both recorded nine points each against the Rockets. Zack Ostapchuk and Ty Thorpe have each tallied four times against Kelowna. A result tonight for the Vancouver Giants is crucial considering that tonight the Victoria Royals are in Prince George to battle the Cougars. The best case scenario for the Giants is if that game ends in regulation.
GIANT NOTES
- 14 of Fabian Lysell’s 21 goals have come on the road.
- 10 of Zack Ostapchuk’s 20 goals have come in the third period.
- Payton Mount is one point shy of 100 for his WHL career.
- The Giants are 18-2-2-0 when leading after two periods.
- Vancouver’s power play has gone 10/35 against Kelowna.
- The Giants are 11-4 when Ty Thorpe scores a goal.
