RECAP: Giants Push Point Streak to 7 with 3-1 Win Over Thunderbirds

Category: ArticleFebruary 9, 2024

PHOTO BY: BRIAN LIESSE

Seattle, WA – Brett Mirwald stonewalled the Seattle Thunderbirds yet again on Friday night, stopping 35 of 36 shots thrown his way to help the Vancouver Giants to a 3-1 win at the accesso ShoWare Center.

The win is the third in a row for the Giants and gives the club points in seven consecutive games (6-0-1), while improving the team’s record in 2024 to 10-3-1. Vancouver’s overall record is now 23-24-3-0. Seattle falls to 18-28-2-0 this season.

Providing the Giants’ goals on Friday night was Kyren Gronick (6th), Mazden Leslie (12th) and Sam Honzek (8th).

Scoring for Seattle was Nathan Pilling.

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GAME SUMMARY:

Gronick opened the scoring after some good work on the forecheck from Connor Levis and Tomis Marinkovic. Levis cut off the breakout by getting a stick in the way and Marinkovic left the puck in the slot for Gronick, who quickly fired it home for his first goal since November 24.

Kyren Gronick gets the Giants on the board first!!

1-0 VAN#GiantNewEra pic.twitter.com/P2nlesW5R0

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) February 10, 2024

Before the fist period was done, the Giants doubled their lead, thanks to a well-placed shot from Leslie, who picked the top shelf from the goal line for his 12th of the year.

Geometry 101 w/ Mazden Leslie. @WHLGiants pic.twitter.com/CfYWEtCcvE

— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 10, 2024

Neither team would score in the second period, but the Giants did have to kill off a four-minute double minor for high sticking, with Mirwald finishing off the PK with a few big saves in succession.

When the second period ended, the score remained 2-0 for Vancouver, with Seattle out-shooting the Giants 25-10.

Vancouver started the third much better, quickly extending their lead to 3-0 after Honzek hopped on a big rebound from Colton Roberts’ point shot.

Captain Sam Honzek.

3-0 VAN | 3rd 0:41#GiantNewEra | #Flames | @NHLFlames pic.twitter.com/gjmLWNrN4E

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) February 10, 2024

Pilling would get one back for the home side midway through the third, but that was as close as the Thunderbirds would come.

Vancouver is now 3-0 against Seattle this season, with Mirwald having allowed just three goals on 93 shots (.968 SV%).

“I didn’t think we had our A game tonight, but I certainly think we’re finding our B game and that’s something good teams do, right? Maybe we didn’t have our legs tonight, early on especially. I thought we got better as the game went on. I think penalties kind of kill momentum in a game, especially a four-minute kill, but I thought in the third that was our best period. I just thought early on we were a little but sleepy. But we had our B-game tonight, found a way to win, Mirzy was outstanding. I thought the PK did a good job, obviously, 6-on-4 at the end and killing a four minute penalty. Overall, we need to play a little bit better tomorrow night but there were some positives for sure.” – Associate Coach Adam Maglio

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STATISTICS

SOG: VAN — 5/5/12 = 22 | SEA – 11/14/11 = 36
PP: VAN — 0/2 | SEA — 0/6
Face-Offs: VAN — 25 | SEA — 30

3 STARS

1st: VAN – Brett Mirwald – 35 Saves on 36 Shots
2nd: SEA – Nathan Pilling – 1G, 7 SOG
3rd: SEA – Nisaan Parmar – 1A, 2 SOG

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Vancouver: WIN – Brett Mirwald (35 saves / 36 shots)
Seattle: Loss – Scott Ratzlaff (19 saves / 22 shots)

NEXT GAME:

The Giants face off with the Wenatchee Wild tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 10 for Langley Minor Hockey night. CLICK FOR TICKETS