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GAME SUMMARY

Schmidt opened the scoring before most fans were seated, using his speed in the neutral zone to blow past a Chiefs defender on the right wing and get a lane to the net, where he quickly shot it off the post and in just 29 seconds into the game.

In Schmidty we trust 🫡#GiantNewEra pic.twitter.com/KXsYGySty7

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) February 19, 2024

Catton responded for the Giants a few minutes later after a give-and-go with Conner Roulette, which ended with Catton going bar down from the high slot to tie the game 1-1.

Spokane would take their first lead of the game late in the first, after Bertholet rushed the puck down the left wing shorthanded and was able to beat Mirwald upstairs on the backhand.

Vancouver got the equalizer quickly, tying the game 27 seconds later after some quick puck movement between Zimmer, Adam Titlbach and Hoilett. Hoilett finished the play off by tucking it five hole after a nice spinorama in front of the net.

After 20 minutes the score was 2-2.

Neither side would score in the middle period, but the Chiefs got the bulk of the chances, firing 13 shots on goal. They also had two power plays, but couldn’t convert on either one.

The deadlock was broken just 3:58 into third, following an offensive zone face-off win. Sam Honzek won the draw back to Marek Howell, who’s point shot created a rebound that was deposited home by Levis, standing open to the right of goaltender Dawson Cowan.

Connor Levis scores goals.

This one might just stand as the game-winner with the clock ticking down between Vancouver and Spokane 👀#NHLJets | @WHLGiants pic.twitter.com/urHKEMKI3x

— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 20, 2024

A pretty passing play with just 2:45 left in the third extended Vancouver’s lead to 4-2, as Ty Halaburda and Hammett connected for a tap-in.

The Giants would score two into the empty net, first Zimmer and then Lipinski. Zimmer’s 19th of the season made it 5-2, before the Chiefs got one back nine seconds later, but the final empty-net goal from Lipinski, his 16th, was the icing on the cake, making it a 6-3 final score.

THEY SAID IT

“It was good to get back home. I thought we looked a little bit tired tonight. You could see it in our legs. We didn’t have that normal jump that we’ve had before. We’ve been on the road quite a bit: we were in Victoria, back against Portland and then back to Portland, again the travel. Arriving at 4 o’clock in the morning sometimes wears on these kids. We were a little bit sluggish, but I thought we got our game back in the third period and got back to how we play as a team, the structure. [Mirwald] made some big saves at the right time and we scored at the right time. It could have went either way. Spokane played really well this afternoon too. Just happy we were able to come away with two points. It’ll be a good day tomorrow for a day off for our kids.” – Head Coach Manny Viveiros

“I thought we had a good first and then think we got away in the second there and it wasn’t our best period, but we regrouped in the third and the guys got a couple goals late in the third and we locked it down, which was good…I think we’re playing smart with the puck [in the third]. We’re not taking chances at the lines. It’s puck management, getting it deep, but still creating offence because we’re scoring goals here in third periods, but we’re not giving up a bunch of late turnovers on blue lines, which is huge. ” – Goaltender Brett Mirwald

CLICK BELOW FOR THE POST-GAME INTERVIEW WITH HC MANNY VIVEIROS AS HEARD ON SPORTSNET 650