RECAP: Schmidt's OT Winner Lifts Giants Past Blazers

RECAP: Schmidt’s OT Winner Lifts Giants Past Blazers

Category: ArticleDecember 27, 2024

Kamloops, B.C. – Cameron Schmidt scored his 25th goal of the season 1:08 into overtime on Friday night to lift the Vancouver Giants past the Kamloops Blazers 4-3 at the Sandman Centre.

The win improves Vancouver’s record to 15-13-4, while the Blazers drop to 12-19-2-0.

Giants goaltender Matthew Hutchison produced another strong outing, finishing with 28 saves. Adam Titlbach, Connor Levis and Jakob Oreskovic provided the other three Vancouver goals.

John Szabo, Emmitt Finnie and Connor Radke each scored for Kamloops.

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GAME SUMMARY

The Giants had two first period power plays, but were unable to score on either.

However, with less than three minutes left in the opening frame, the Giants struck first, when Tyler Thorpe sprung Titlbach for a breakaway, who deked to the backhand and tucked it home for his 13th of the season.

First goal of the second half by yours truly Adam Titlbach!!

Your G-Men open the scoring!@TheWHL | 17:33 1st pic.twitter.com/loRfpZKDKP

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) December 28, 2024

The Blazers tied the game midway through the second period when Szabo fired a shot from the left circle, but the Giants responded just 11 seconds later when Levis put home a loose puck after goaltender Dylan Ernst failed to cover it.

Jk, the Giants are up by one!

Connor Levis with his 14th of the season!!@TheWHL | 12:16 2nd pic.twitter.com/z1vSj9dJpK

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) December 28, 2024

Before the second period came to a close, the Blazers tied the game 2-2 when Finnie deflected a shot that Szabo took from the point.

Less than six minutes into the third period, Oreskovic gave the Giants their third lead of the game, when Jaden Lipinski found him open in the left circle for a quick release top shelf.

Jakob Oreskovic with his 6th of the season!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/PahxFpKplY

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) December 28, 2024

Just 39 seconds later, the Blazers would tie it yet again after Radke’s centering pass went off a skate and into the net.

Hutchison stopped Layton Feist and then Finnie on a wrap around early in the 3-on-3 overtime to keep the Giants alive.

Holding space for this save made by Hutch.@TheWHL pic.twitter.com/pb9Krg9RJY

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) December 28, 2024

Schmidt would end the game after he absorbed a hit and popped free from the left corner, where he proceeded to chip a quick shot top shelf.

OT HERO CAMERON SCHMIDT.@TheWHL | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/tY7A09pHM0

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) December 28, 2024

THEY SAID IT

“We just liked our approach tonight. Our guys were dialled in. You could tell. It’s hard coming off Christmas break. A little bit of sloppiness on both sides and that’s to be expected, but I just liked our approach. They stuck with it. Our third period was our best period. Obviously great getting the win in OT.” – Giants Associate Coach Adam Maglio on the game overall

“I thought last game leading into break they were our best line and they continued that tonight. I think just the little things they do out there. They’re a real good grind line. They get us a lot of o-zone possession time. I thought they had some good lucks from grind time. And then just seeing Jake score tonight – really happy for him.” – Giants Associate Coach Adam Maglio on Hoilett, Lipinski, Oreskovic

“Calmness in the net. He made saves at key moments that kept us in the game, early on especially. I thought he was really, really dialled in. He just looks comfortable in the net these last two games. He’s tracking pucks well; his rebound control has been good. And the other thing is he’s not getting rattled when one goes in on him. I think our team feeds off that. Obviously goaltending is a big part of any team’s success and Hutch has been very, very solid the last two games.” – Giants Associate Coach Adam Maglio Hutchison’s goaltending

STATISTICS

SOG: VAN —5/8/11/2 = 26 | KAM – 5/17/7/2 = 31
PP: VAN—0/4 | KAM — 0/2
Face-Offs: VAN — 23 | KAM — 23

3 STARS

1st: VAN – Adam Titlbach – 1G, 1A, 2 SOG, +2
2nd: KAM – Emmitt Finnie – 1G, 8 SOG
3rd: KAM – John Szabo – 1G, 1A, 3 SOG

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Vancouver: WIN – Matthew Hutchison (28 saves / 31 shots)
Kamloops: LOSS – Dylan Ernst (22 saves / 26 shots)

THIS AND THAT

Levis (1G), Thorpe (2A) and Titlbach (1G-1A) combined for five points. The trio has now combined for 27 points over their last five games
Schmidt’s 25th goal moves him into a tie for 2nd in the WHL, two back of Shea Van Olm’s league-leading 27
Lipinski’s third period assist was the 150th point of his WHL career. He has 54G-96A in 224 GP
Oreskovic’s goal was his first since Oct. 19, breaking a 20-game goalless drought

UPCOMING

Date	Opponent	Time	Location
Sunday, December 29	Kelowna	4:00 PM PST	Langley Events Centre
Tuesday, December 31	Victoria	2:05 PM PST	Save on Foods Memorial Centre
Wednesday, January 1	Victoria	2:00 PM PST	Langley Events Centre

B.C. Division