Vancouver Giants were shut out 3-0 by the Portland Winterhawks on Sunday evening, Dec.31 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, but it could have been worse if not for a 50-save performance from Giants goaltender Brett Mirwald.
Giants Associate Coach Adam Maglio said “it was one of those games where it could have turned. You’re one goal [away] in the third, it was just one shot away, but we certainly didn’t generate enough to create enough chances,” Maglio assessed.
“Against this team, you’ve got to be really, really disciplined. You can’t over extend your minutes on the ice, especially from our top guys. That tweaked momentum a little bit, but we were still in it, we were one shot away there for a bit. But we’ve got to move on.”
Despite the lopsided shot counter – which read 53-14 by the end of the game – the Giants were right there knocking on the door throughout the contest, trailing 1-0 after 40 minutes.
Josh Davies’ deflection off James Stefan’s shot made it 2-0 for Portland midway through the third and the Winterhawks added an empty-net goal to make it a 3-0 final.
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The only goal in the first two periods actually went in off a skate, as Winterhawks forward Josh Zakreski deflected off a Giants player to make it 1-0 for Portland at the 9:29 mark of the opening period.
Vancouver got into some penalty trouble near the end of the second, but Mirwald helped them kill off three straight infractions, including a 5-on-3.
Vancouver tried to push in the third, but Portland extended their lead after Stefan’s wrist shot from the blueline was deflected in by Davies.
Stefan added an empty-net goal with 2:52 left in regulation to make it a 3-0 final.
With the loss, Vancouver’s record falls to 13-21-2-0 this season. Portland improves to 23-10-1-1.
Mirwald was named second star of the game.
Next, Giants host the Calgary Hitmen on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. ,
It will be their last game at the LEC until Jan. 21, following a two-week road trip to Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
