Some different players took at turn on the ice for the Vancouver Giants Wednesday night, while on the Island – but the results were the same.
The G-Men once again emerged triumphant, toppling the hosting Royals 5-1 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria.
The Giants are now winners of five straight and are 8-0-1 in their last nine contests.
Wednesday’s victory was due in large part to Kyren Gronick, who scored two goals, and Cameron Schmidt, who earned three points.
And a big part of the credit was also given to Giants’ netminder Brett Mirwald, who made 31 saves on 32 shots for his 22nd win of the season. He is now 11-2-1 in his last 13 games, noted associate coach Adam Maglio.
“It was nice to see some different guys contribute tonight,” he said.
“The guys are gelling really well and they’re pulling for each other. They get up when some different guys contribute like they did tonight,” Maglio added.
The win in Victoria leaves the Giants 12-3-1 since New Year’s Day, enjoying a solid run.
But that doesn’t erase the deficits experienced during the earlier part of the season. Their overall record now is 25-24-3-0, still leaving them five points back of the fifth-place Royals.
GAME SUMMARY
Schmidt found the back of the net just 1:53 into the first period, after a give-and-go with Adam Titlbach off the rush on the power play.
“I think his give-and-go game [has grown], that’s where Cameron is excelling too. Obviously he’s very offensively gifted and has great finish around the net, but he’s learning how to use his teammates and playing a little more give-and-go hockey. Two really good passes tonight,” Maglio noted on Schmidt’s game.
That was the only goal of the first period.
Victoria tied the game several minutes into the second period, after a power-play goal of their own. Good puck movement from up high, to down low, to the slot thanks to two quick passes led to Haugen’s 11th tally of the season.
Before the second period was done, Vancouver grabbed back the lead.
Schmidt sprung Gronick for a semi-breakaway, where he had to fight off defenceman Justin Kipkie, who slashed him on the play, but the 19-year-old used strong body positioning to free himself for a quick shot that went top shelf to make the score 2-1.
Schmidt started a 2-on-1 from his own zone early in the third period and then fed Gronick cross-ice for his second of the game to make it 3-1 Giants at 5:20 of the third.
“[Gronick’s] so smart, so whether he’s using his body to protect pucks or getting in soft spots like he did to get on the pass from [Schmidt] there, and he’s got a great shot. I think an underrated, really good shot. It’s been great having him back and he’s producing right now, it’s really good to see,” Maglio said.
Just 1:19 later, Obobaifo one-timed a shot from the right circle off a feed from Mazden Leslie to make it 4-1 Giants.
Before the game was done, Marinkovic would bat home a rebound after a good net drive from Obobaifo to make the final 5-1.
Next up, the Giants have a home-and-home with the Portland Winterhawks on Friday and Saturday.
The home game is Friday, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.
Then on Family Day on Monday, the Giants host the Spokane Chiefs for Country Day at 2 p.m., followed by a post-game family skate on the ice.
People can learn more about the Giants, or buy tickets online by visiting vancouvergiants.com.
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