PREVIEW: Vancouver Giants vs. Kamloops Blazers (Game #50)
The five-game home stand continues tonight for the Vancouver Giants who put their five-game winning streak on the line against the B.C. Division leading Kamloops Blazers today at 4 PM. The Giants are coming off a 5-2 victory at home last night against Prince George Cougars while the Blazers dropped a 5-4 decision to the Victoria Royals on the road. The Blazers are looking to snap their longest winless streak of the season (four games).
KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
OVERVIEW:
Head Coach: Shaun Clouston
Record: 32-15-3-1
Road Record: 14-10-3-0
Last Game: A 5-4 loss on the road last night in Victoria.
Last 10: 5-4-1-0
Record vs. VAN: 4-1-1-0
Goals For/Goals Against: 211 GF/127 GA (+84)
Power Play: 25.6% (2nd)
Penalty Kill: 86.6% (3rd)
Leading Scorers: Zane Franklin (26-50-76), Connor Zary (31-37-68), Orrin Centazzo (35-32-67)
ZARY WON’T STOP!
Heading into tonight’s game, Blazers forward Connor Zary is ranked fifth in league scoring with 68 points (31G, 37A). The 2001-born product of Saskatoon, SK has recorded points in each of his past five games (3G, 6A) and has found the scoresheet in 10 of his past 11 games dating back to January 4th. Now with 68 points, he’s moved a single point past his total from a season ago. Zary has scored four goals and added eight assists for 12 points in six games against the Giants so far this season. Zary is eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft and was recently ranked #12 on NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term Rankings List for draft eligible North American skaters. Out of all first-time NHL draft eligible players, only Portland’s Seth Jarvis (72) has more points than Zary.
THE SEASON SERIES:
The good news for Kamloops: They’re 4-1-1 on the season against Vancouver and have outscored them 24-13 in that span. The bad news: They’ve dropped their previous two meetings to the Giants. Last weekend the Blazers snagged one of a possible four points against the Giants, dropping a 5-4 overtime decision on January 31st followed by a 3-2 regulation loss at home the next night. Connor Zary (4G, 8A), Zane Franklin (5G, 3A) and Orrin Centazzo (4G, 4A) have combined for 28 points in six games against Vancouver this season.
KAMLOOPS NOTES:
- Four of Logan Stankoven’s 17 goals this season have come against the Giants.
- Kamloops is 9/28 this season on the power play against Vancouver.
- The Blazers are 25-0-2-0 when leading after two periods.
- Max Martin currently sits third in league scoring among defencemen with 11 goals and 39 assists.
- Zane Franklin is ranked third in league scoring with 76 points (26G, 50A).
VANCOUVER GIANTS
OVERVIEW:
Head Coach: Michael Dyck
Record: 24-20-3-2
Home Record: 12-10-2-0
Last Game: A 5-2 victory at home last night against Prince George
Last 10: 7-2-1-0
Goals For/Goals Against: 138 GF/130 GA (+8)
Power Play: 19.4% (13th)
Penalty Kill: 80.2% (9th)
Leading Scorers: Tristen Nielsen (23-25-48), Eric Florchuk (16-25-41), Justin Sourdif (18-21-39)
STACKING THE ‘DECK’:
- The power play connected for a sixth straight game. Since the trade deadline it has gone 18/42.
- Last night Eric Florchuk extended his point streak to six straight games with an assist. He now has one goal and nine assists for 10 points.
- Tristen Nielsen leads the Giants with seven points (4G, 3A) against Kamloops.
- In his past five games, Michal Kvasnica has posted five goals and two assists for seven points.
- Justin Sourdif has scored goals in four straight games.