Giants Wrap Up October With a 7-2 Victory Over Kelowna
The power play for the Vancouver Giants can no longer be classified as cold. Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre, the Vancouver Giants (4-2) exploded for four power play goals, and added two shorthanded markers in a 7-2 victory over the visiting Kelowna Rockets (2-3). Justin Sourdif (2G, 2A) and Fabian Lysell (1G, 3A) combined for eight points for the G-Men while Ty Halaburda (1G, 1A), Connor Horning (1G, 1A) and Adam Hall (1G, 1A) each added two points. Jesper Vikman turned aside 26 Kelowna shots to secure his fourth win of the season. The goaltending tandem of Colby Knight and Cole Tisdale combined for 33 saves for the Rockets.
SPECIAL TEAMS WIN THE DAY FOR THE GIANTS AT HOME
1st Period
VAN – 2:08 into the game, Adam Hall opened the scoring on a shorthanded breakaway, giving the Giants the 1-0 lead. Hall’s team leading fifth goal of the season, was unassisted.
KEL – Colton Dach responded for Kelowna at 11:41. The Chicago Blackhawks prospect followed up on a Pavel Novak rebound, and batted home his team-leading fourth of the season.
VAN – The Giants took their second (and final) lead of the night at 16:38 when Ty Thorpe parked himself in front of the Kelowna goal and deflected home a Justin Sourdif point shot home. Fabian Lysell added the secondary assist on Thorpe’s fourth goal of the season. Thorpe’s goal was the first of four Giants power play goals on the night.
Shots: 10-9 Kelowna
2nd Period
VAN – 4:02 into the middle frame, Ty Halaburda registered his first career WHL goal (also via the power play) off his own rebound. Adam Hall and Connor Horning both drew assists.
So Ty, walk us through your first @TheWHL goal.. pic.twitter.com/jSfwJmyJxC
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) October 30, 2021
VAN – Justin Sourdif extended the Vancouver lead to 4-1 off a shorthanded breakaway at 11:36. Sourdif’s goal was unassisted.
KEL – On that same power play, Jake Poole supplied the Rockets with their final goal of the night at 12:37. Poole’s second of the season was set up by Colton Dach and Jake Lee.
VAN – Connor Horning answered with the Giants third power play tally of the night at 15:03. Ty Halaburda and Fabian Lysell both factored in on Horning’s second goal of the campaign.
VAN – The power play wasn’t done. Justin Sourdif gave the Giants their fourth goal on the man advantage at 17:37 off a shot from the point. The lone assist was credited to Fabian Lysell.
VAN – The final goal of the night came at even strength from Fabian Lysell who redirected home a Tanner Brown pass from the slot area for his fourth point of the game. Justin Sourdif had the second assist which also gave him four points on the night.
Shots: 20 – 10 Vancouver
3rd Period
*Cole Tisdale replaced Colby Knight in the Kelowna goal to start the third period.
No Scoring
Shots: 11-8
GAME SUMMARY
Final Score: Vancouver 7 – Kelowna 2
Final Shots: 40 – 28 Vancouver
Jesper Vikman: 26/28 saves for Vancouver
Colby Knight: 22/29 saves for Kelowna
Cole Tisdale: 11/11 saves for Kelowna
Vancouver Power Play: 4/5
Kelowna Power Play: 1/4
3 Stars:
- Justin Sourdif (VAN – 2G, 2A)
- Fabian Lysell (VAN – 1G, 3A)
- Ty Halaburda (VAN – 1G, 1A)
Next Giants Game: Wednesday, November 3rd at Kelowna at 7:05 PM.
After a four point night, here’s @NHLBruins prospect Fabian Lysell. pic.twitter.com/IgtcBo2okP
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) October 30, 2021
NOTES
- Ty Halaburda became the fourth Giant of the season to record his first WHL goal, joining Ethan Semeniuk, Nicco Camazzola and Fabian Lysell.
- Last season, Ty Thorpe had three goals and three assists for six points in 21 games. This season already he has four goals and three assists for seven points in six games.
- The Vancouver Giants power play started the evening ranked last in the WHL with a 5.8 percent success rate (1/17). It finished the night ranked ninth in the WHL with a 22.7 percent success rate (5/22).
