The Vancouver Giants improved after a dismal performance on Friday night, but the end result was the same: two more losses to the Victoria Royals.
The Royals used a potent power-play on Friday night, scoring five times in six man-advantage opportunities to defeat the Giants 6-4 at the Langley Events Centre.
Standing outside the Giants dressing room a few minutes after the final buzzer, Vancouver head coach Jason McKee didn’t mince words when talking about his team’s effort.
“It was unacceptable,” McKee said. “Lack of emotion, our system play, attention to details, our PK (penalty kill) was not good. They (Victoria) deserved to win the game. They were the better team. I’m truly disappointed with the group. Tonight was a very, very disappointing night for me.”
The scene shifted to the provincial capital on Saturday and Sunday and the Save-on-Foods Memorial Arena with a better showing both nights for Vancouver but the Royals won 3-1 and 3-2, respectively.
Vancouver — already eliminated from post-season contention even before the weekend began — fell to 19-39-2-3.
Friday’s contest saw Ty Ronning, Matt Barberis, Johnny Wesley and Calvin Spencer score one goal apiece as the team was outshot 47-27.
Spencer had the lone goal in Saturday’s game while Wesley and Bartek Bison found the back of the net on Sunday.
Vancouver has nine games remaining and the Giants return to action tonight (Wednesday) when they host the Portland Winterhawks at the LEC.
Puck drop is 7 p.m. and the game is Fill the Rink in support of Basics for Babies. Langley country music star Dallas Smith will be signing autographs during the first intermission in exchange for $10 donations to the charity.
It is the start of a three-game set with the Winterhawks with the teams playing in Portland on both March 3 and 4.
