PREVIEW: Vancouver Giants vs. Spokane Chiefs (Game #62)

Category: ArticleApril 3, 2022

The plot continues to thicken with regards to the Western Conference playoff race. This afternoon at the Langley Events Centre the Vancouver Giants will take to the ice for the second of a home back-to-back against the Spokane Chiefs and the importance of victory is even larger today compared to yesterday. The Chiefs did their part last night by securing a 5-2 victory, and are now just three points back of the sixth placed Giants. The Giants (50 points) have now dropped five straight, and are stuck in a four-team log-jam with Victoria (50 points), Prince George (47 points) and Spokane (47 points). Despite their recent struggles, the Giants are “still” in full control of their playoff destiny, and can inch closer to clinching an official spot with a victory tonight.

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SPOKANE CHIEFS

OVERVIEW

Record: 21-37-4-1

Road Record: 9-18-2-1

Last Game: A 5-2 road victory last night against the Giants

Last 10: 4-6-0-0

Record vs. VAN: 2-1

Goals For/Goals Against: 172 GF/271 GA (-99)

Power Play: 20.9% (12th)

Penalty Kill: 74.0% (19th)

Leading Scorers: Bear Hughes (22-39-61), Nick McCarry (19-38-57), Chase Bertholet (22-30-52)

BEAUPIT SHINES AT HOME

2003-born goaltender Mason Beaupit (Surrey, B.C.) is doing his part to will the Spokane Chiefs back into the playoff picture. The 6’5″ netminder faced 37 shots last night and stopped 35 of them en route to a 5-2 victory for Spokane – His 17th of the season. The former Valley West Giant has appeared in 44 games between the pipes for the Chiefs and has managed a record of 17-20-3-1 with one shutout, a 3.66 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage. He’s 2-0 so far this week having also notched a victory Friday in Kamloops. Last week in Kitchener, ON Mason Beaupit represented the WHL in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, and made 16 saves on 16 shots faced in a victory for Team White. Beaupit is first-time draft eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT

The Spokane Chiefs improved their weekend record to 2-0 with a 5-2 victory over the G-Men last night at the LEC. Ty Cheveldayoff struck twice while Bear Hughes (2A) and Chase Bertholet (1G, 1A) also had two points. Mason Beaupit was terrific in the Spokane net making 35 saves. Berkly Catton, the 2021 first overall draft pick in the WHL recorded his first career WHL points with an assist. The Chiefs went one-for-six on the power play and killed off all four of their penalties. The victory moved the Chiefs within three points of Vancouver in the Western Conference standings, and put them back into a points tie with the Prince George Cougars.

CHIEF NOTES

Ty Cheveldayoff (3G, 1A) and Blake Swetlikoff (1G, 3A) each have four points against Vancouver so far this season.
Bear Hughes leads the Chiefs with 29 power play points (6G, 23A).
Mason Beaupit is 2-0 this season against Vancouver with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.
Spokane’s power play is now 2/12 against the Giants in three games.
Graham Sward leads all Chief blueliners with 41 points (10G, 31A).

VANCOUVER GIANTS

OVERVIEW

Record: 23-34-4-0

Home Record: 10-17-3-0

Last Game: A 5-2 loss last night at home to Spokane

Last 10: 3-6-1-0

Record vs. SPO: 1-2

Goals For/Goals Against: 171 GF/219 GA (-48)

Power Play: 18.1% (18th)

Penalty Kill: 76.1% (18th)

Leading Scorers: Fabian Lysell (20-33-53), Ty Thorpe (16-27-43), Zack Ostapchuk (19-16-35)

THE RISE OF JADEN LIPINSKI

2004-born forward Jaden Lipinski (Scottsdale, AZ) has had a remarkable calendar month for the Vancouver Giants. The 6’3″ rookie has registered seven goals along with three assists for 10 points in a span of 12 games since March 5th. In that span Lipinski has added two separate two-goal games and three multi-point games. Last night against Spokane Lipinski struck twice in the opening period, staking the Giants to a 2-0 lead. Lipinski now has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points on the season. The 2023 draft-eligible forward is the only Giant to play in all 61 games that they have played this season.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT

The Vancouver Giants stormed out to a 2-0 lead last night on the strength of a pair of goals from Jaden Lipinski. Justin Lies helped set up both goals while Alex Cotton and Colton Langkow also found the scoresheet. Connor Martin was sharp in goal for Vancouver making a season-high 40 saves. Zack Ostapchuk and Alex Cotton both returned to the Giants lineup after dealing with injuries in recent weeks. The power play went 0/4 and the penalty kill was 5/6. It marked the fifth straight loss for the Giants overall and their third straight defeat on home ice.

GIANT NOTES

The next point for Payton Mount will mark the 100th of his WHL career.
Ty Thorpe is two points shy of 75 for his career.
Alex Cotton is seven games shy of 200 for his WHL career.
Jaden Lipinski is the only Giant to appear in all 61 of their games this season.
10 of Zack Ostapchuk’s 19 goals have come in the third period of games.
Seven of Ty Thorpe’s 16 goals have been scored in the first period.