WHL Roundup: Tendeck stops 24 to silence Blazers
Kamloops Blazers (0) at Vancouver Giants (2)
Kamloops (27-32-1-4) // Vancouver (32-21-5-3)
David Tendeck shut the door on the Kamloops Blazers in the lone game on the Western Hockey League schedule Monday, helping another team book their spot into the 2018 Western Hockey League’s playoffs.
Both Tendeck and Blazers’ goaltender Dylan Ferguson (Vegas Golden Knights) owned the first period, turning aside some quality chances to keep both sides searching for the game’s first goal after 20 minutes.
Jared Dmytriw would change that 13:50 into the second as the Giants worked together some solid passes on the power play, giving Dmytriw a strong chance down low against Ferguson. Tendeck continued to hold the fort in the second as the Giants held the Blazers to three shots in the period to bring Tendeck’s save total to 13 after 40 minutes.
Though the Blazers would press for the tying goal in the third, they couldn’t get themselves on the board as Tendeck stopped all 11 shots and captain Tyler Benson (Edmonton Oilers) scored a late goal into the empty net to double Vancouver’s lead.
Tendeck finished with the aforementioned 24 saves, earning his third career WHL shutout. Ferguson stopped 24 of 25 shots, but took the loss.
James Malm and Bowen Byram picked up the assists in Monday’s game. With his game-winning goal Monday, Dmytriw is now one goal away from equalling his career-high of 15 goals from last season.
The win helped the U.S. Division’s Spokane Chiefs clinch a playoff spot while the Giants took another step closer to clinch their own playoff berth.
GOOOOOOALLLLLLLL!!!!@TylerBenson_17 ices the game into the empty net!!! 19:59 the time of the goal as the Giants take a 2-0 lead and that is a final! David Tendeck earns his third shutout of the season as the Giants have their 32nd win of the season! Much more to come!
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) February 27, 2018