A good start was undone by superior special teams as the Vancouver Giants rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Saskatoon Blades Tuesday in Langley, B-C.
Milos Roman’s power play at 3;21 of the third period snapped a 3-3 tie as the G-Men won their third straight game and ended the Bridge City Bunch’s winning run on the road at three games. Davis Koch scored twice and added an assist, with the 20-year-old’s first goal coming on a man-advantage that started Vancouver’s comeback from a 3-1 deficit after the first period. The 17-6-2 Giants were 2-for-3 on the power play…ending a string of 19 consecutive successful kills by the Blades. Meanwhile, Saskatoon’s power play went 0-for-4, including 1:12 of 5-on-3 advantage in the second period with the score tied 3-3 in which the Bridge City Bunch failed to register a shot on goal.
“That obviously played a big part,” said Blue and Gold assistant coach Ryan Keller, when asked about the failed two-man power play chance contributing to the shift in game momentum to Vancouver’s side. “It starts with execution. It doesn’t really matter what you draw up, if you’re not ready to out there and you’re not crisp with your puck movement…it doesn’t really matter what you have game planned or draw up.”
Kirby Dach, Josh Paterson and Max Gerlach replied for the 15-9-2 Blades, who were out-shot 28-26. Saskatoon gets a chance to bounce-back Wednesday when they visit the Save-on-Foods Centre in Victoria to take on the 12-8-0 Royals. Game time is 9 o’clock, Saskatchewan Time, with the Sardinia Family Restaurant pre-game show at 8 on 98-COOL. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Saskatoon Blades 3 at Vancouver Giants 5 – Status: Final
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 – Langley Events Centre – Langley, BC
Saskatoon 3 0 0 – 3
Vancouver 1 2 2 – 5
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Dach 14 5:28. 2, Saskatoon, Paterson 7 (Haden, Wouters), 6:51. 3, Vancouver, Hardy 5 (Dmytriw, Plouffe), 8:57. 4, Saskatoon, Gerlach 16 (Davidson, Dach), 9:56. Penalties-Davidson Sas (cross checking), 0:34; Bafaro Sas (holding), 8:29; Nielsen Van (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 8:29.
2nd Period-5, Vancouver, Koch 7 (Roman, Watts), 1:49 (PP). 6, Vancouver, Barfoot 1 (Patrician, Bulych), 3:51. Penalties-Schuldhaus Sas (elbowing), 1:32; Byram Van (interference), 8:23; Plouffe Van (tripping), 9:11.
3rd Period-7, Vancouver, Roman 13 (Koch, Byram), 3:21 (PP). 8, Vancouver, Koch 8 19:46 (EN). Penalties-Huber Sas (interference), 2:47; Plouffe Van (cross checking), 5:22; Haden Sas (roughing), 6:30; Dmytriw Van (roughing), 6:30; Hendren Van (tripping), 8:20; Huber Sas (roughing), 19:53; Ettinger Van (charging), 19:54.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 10-7-9-26. Vancouver 9-12-7-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 0 / 4; Vancouver 2 / 3.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Maier 13-7-1-0 (27 shots-23 saves). Vancouver, Tendeck 9-5-1-0 (26 shots-23 saves).
A-2,476
Referees-Duncan Brow (19), Dexter Rasmussen (25).
Linesmen-Michael McGowan (41), Trevor Beaton (155).
