Silvertips Regain Series Lead After a 6-2 Win Wednesday Over the Giants
The top-seeded Everett Silvertips have gained their first series lead in Round 1. Wednesday night at the Langley Events Centre, the Vancouver Giants dropped a 6-2 decision at home to the Everett Silvertips in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Niko Huuhtanen, Matthew Ng and Ryan Hofer each scored twice for the Silvertips while Hunter Campbell and Michael Gut added two assists each. Fabian Lysell responded with a goal and an assist for the Giants who are now down 2-1 in their series with Game 4 looming on Friday.
GIANTS TRAIL THE SERIES 2-1
1st Period:
EVT – Ryan Hofer gave Everett a 1-0 lead at 9:26 when he knocked home his own rebound in close. Niko Huuhtanen had the lone assist.
EVT – Niko Huuhtanen then got in on the goal-scoring act himself when he snuck into the slot, and converted off a Michael Gut feed. Huuhtanen’s fourth of the series was also set up by Hunter Campbell.
EVT – The final goal of the frame came at 19:52 from Ryan Hofer (4) who found a puck in a crowd of skates in the slot, and wired it home. The lone assist came from Matthew Ng.
Shots: 9-7 Everett
2nd Period:
EVT – Matthew Ng made it a 4-0 at 2:14 when he capitalized off a Ben Hemmerling feed from the left-wing. For Ng it was his first of the series.
VAN – The Giants first goal of the night came from Fabian Lysell (1) on a power play at 3:45. Lysell’s shot from the right-wing circle made its way up and over the shoulder of Braden Holt. Connor Horning and Alex Cotton both earned assists.
EVT – 15-seconds later the Silvertips made it 5-1 when Matthew Ng took a feed from Hunter Campbell, split through two defenceman and converted in close for his second of the game. Aidan Sutter had the second assist.
VAN – Adam Hall (4) notched his team-leading fourth goal of the series on a power play at 10:48 to give the Giants their final goal of the night. The lone assist came from Fabian Lysell.
Shots: 18-10 Vancouver
3rd Period:
EVT – The final goal of the night came on a five-minute major power play off the stick of Niko Huuhtanen. Huuhtanen’s series-leading fifth goal was set up by Olen Zellweger and Michael Gut.
Shots: 9-5 Vancouver
GAME SUMMARY
Final Score: Everett 6 – Vancouver 2 (Everett leads the series: 2-1)
Final Shots: 34-24 Vancouver
Jesper Vikman: 18/24 saves for Vancouver
Braden Holt: 32/34 saves for Everett
Vancouver Power Play: 2/7
Everett Power Play: 1/7
3 Stars:
- Ryan Hofer (EVT – 2G)
- Matthew Ng (EVT – 2G, 1A)
- Fabian Lysell (VAN – 1G, 1A)
Next Game: Game 4 of the series will go Friday at 7:30 PM from the LEC.
NOTES
- Fabian Lysell, Adam Hall and Alex Cotton have each recorded points in all three games of the series so far.
- Fabian Lysell (1G, 7A) has factored in on eight of the Giants 10 goals in the series.
- Tom Cadieux and Matthew Edwards both received five-minute major penalties in the third period for Vancouver. Their status for Game 4 is to be determined.
- The Giants power play has supplied six of their 10 goals so far in the series.
