A come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Victoria Royals gave the Vancouver Giants their second win in a row Tuesday night, March 30, in Kamloops.
Sourdif âž¡ï¸ Nielsen âž¡ï¸ Florchuk
What a play from the @WHLGiants top line to seal the win!#REMAXHub pic.twitter.com/OaCmtdlNIv
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 31, 2021
Tristen Nielsen and Eric Florchuk both scored in a one minute, 12 second span late in the third period to erase a 4-3 deficit for the Langley-based Giants.
Florchuk, Nielsen, Justin Sourdif and Adam Hall all had multi-point games while goaltender Drew Sim stopped 23 shots to earn his first career WHL victory.
Win â˜ï¸for @Drew31Sim in @TheWHL.
😎 pic.twitter.com/7t0Zhw47er
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 31, 2021
“It feels good,” Sim said
“It was a hard-fought battle, but it feels nice to have one under the belt,” Sim commented, saying there was “tons of urgency” after the Royals took the lead.
“We really wanted to grind out that win.”
RECAP: Two goals in the span of a minute and 12 seconds late in the third help lift the G-Men to their second straight victory, a 5-4 triumph over the Victoria Royals.
Read More 📎: https://t.co/nXbmM1F6tR
📸: Allen Douglas pic.twitter.com/gfmpJ0KqEa
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 31, 2021
In the first period, Vancouver got off to a good start when Ostapchuk scored on a two-on-one rush with Florchuk.
âš ï¸ MOST DANGEROUS PK IN THE LEAGUE âš ï¸ pic.twitter.com/M68MAi1UIa
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 31, 2021
Moments later, Adam Hall made it a 2-0 lead when he wired home a high shot over the left shoulder of Victoria goalie Connor Martin. Justin Sourdif earned the lone assist.
Then, Brandon Cutler put the Royals on the board on a breakaway. Kalem Parker drew the lone helper.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Vancouver Giants drop season opener to Blazers
In the second period, Royals captain Tarun Fizer tied the game at 2-2 and less than three minutes later, Victoria took the lead when Anaheim Ducks prospect Brayden Tracey tucked home his first of the season on a deke from the right-wing on a power play.
In the third period, Vancouver came back with Hall burying his second goal of the evening off a feed from Connor Horning.
Keanu Derungs then gave the Royals a 4-3 lead on a power play when he parked himself in front of the Giants net and deflected home a feed from Tarun Fizer.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Vancouver Giants bounce back with 6-0 win over Kelowna
Giants answered with a power play strike of their own. Off a faceoff victory, Nielsen pounced on a loose puck and wired a shot by Martin to tie the score.
Florchuk completed the Giants comeback off the rush when he deflected home a feed from Nielsen. Sourdif drew the second assist on what would end up as the winning goal.
RECAP: Two goals in the span of a minute and 12 seconds late in the third help lift the G-Men to their second straight victory, a 5-4 triumph over the Victoria Royals.
Read More 📎: https://t.co/nXbmM1F6tR
📸: Allen Douglas pic.twitter.com/gfmpJ0KqEa
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 31, 2021
Sourdif and Neilsen were first and second stars of the game.
With two points on the night, Nielsen now has nine points through the first three games of the season. He’s recorded two-or-more points in each of the first three games.
Sourdif has now recorded seven assists in his past two games while Hall has recorded points in each of the first three games of the season.
“It’s been three games now,” Florchuk remarked.
“The rust is off for most of the guys. (Tonight), we need to play our way, the right way and we’ll have success.”
READ ALSO: WHL announces 14-day suspension of Kelowna team activities after more positive COVID tests
Next up, the Giants were expected to face off tonight (Wednesday) against Prince George. But hours prior to the 7 p.m. puck drop the WHL announced they’re suspending team activities – including games – for a minimum of 14 days. Out of an “abundance of caution” the Giants announced their game would be postponed, too.
Several team members and staff with the Kelowna Rockets have tested positive for COVID. The Giants played Kelowna on Sunday.
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Giants goaltender Drew Sim stopped 23 shots to earn his first career WHL victory against Victoria on March 30, 2021 (Allen Douglas/Special to Langley Advance Times)
Giants goaltender Drew Sim stopped 23 shots to earn his first career WHL victory against Victoria on March 30, 2021 (Allen Douglas/Special to Langley Advance Times)
Giants goaltender Drew Sim stopped 23 shots to earn his first career WHL victory against Victoria on March 30, 2021 (Special to Langley Advance Times)
