Sounded like a nail-biter last night as the Giants were their own worst enemies, guilty of bad turnovers and lax defensive zone coverage in their end of the ice. The Vancouver boys gave up three leads in the game before taking the two points in a shootout, where Kevin Connauton was the only player to find the back of the net. The game saw a few lively bouts and had some good energy throughout. Again it was the top line for the Giants who produced the majority of their points. The Giants really need to get some of their other lines putting up the numbers consistently as they will find their top line will be shut-down by better teams. The BC Division is still the weakest division in the Dub this season and although the Giants have been fairly good versus their division rivals they really need to make sure they take care of these opponents handily instead of squandering leads with poor play.

The game opened up with a scrap between Brett Lyon and Linden Saip a mere 22 seconds into the contest. The Blazers ran over Jamie Tucker the next shift and took a goaltender interference penalty. The Giants made them pay as they opened the scoring 1:35 into the game. Brendan Gallagher found the twine with his 23 of the season on the PP and probably has scouts ticking his name on their NHL draft lists, despite his diminutive stature. As has been for the past few games, Craig Cunningham and Connauton got the assists as all those boys continue to pad their individual stats. Kamloops got that back when Jimmy Bubnick found the back of the net putting a good one past Tucker. That was it for scoring in a feisty opening period.

Early in the middle frame there was another good bout of fisticuffs as two Brandons tangled. Underwood and Scholten dropped the mitts at 4:13, in a period which saw many roughing calls being made both ways. The Giants made another PP work for them in the second as Cunningham scored his 19th off of (you guessed it) Gallagher and Connauton. The Giants brought better pressure in the second, getting more shots on Kurtis Mucha. The Vancouver boys padded that lead less than a minute later when David Musil was able to get one past Mucha. Garry Nunn and Mike Piluso got the helpers. Saip would cash in one of the Blazers PP chances to pull his team within one.

Matej Bene tied up the game mid-way through the third scoring the only really weak goal Tucker allowed on the night and one the ‘tender might want another stab at saving. It was Bene’s second of the season. The team’s aggressive play continued as the penalties being called were mostly of the roughing variety. The Giants scored their third PP goal of the game for the second night running. Lance Bouma tickled the twine behind Mucha, being set-up by Gallagher and Cunningham both of whom had three point nights with 1G 2A apiece. The Blazers would not give up though coming back to tie the game again. Bubnick scored his second of the game on a Blazers late PP chance. The two teams played to a tie for the remaining 4 minutes, forcing OT and guaranteeing themselves at least a point in a fairly tight contest.

Nothing would be solved in OT, although the Blazers would get the better chances and avoid a penalty against when Shayne Wiebe ran over Tucker in the crease, knocking his helmet off in the process. Tucker got his revenge though when he stoned Wiebe in the shootout before Connauton stepped up to the plate and put the winner past Mucha. This is proving to be a bigger rivalry and these two squads are developing a very healthy dislike for one another. Add in the Bonner boys as competing GMs and you can bet there’s some pressure over and above points in these contests.

The Giants barely out-shot the Blazers 37-34. For the second time in two nights and walking away with a 60% PP avg. on the weekend, the G’s went 3 for 5. The Blazers went 2 for 8 taking advantage of the Giants scrambling in their own end. Not sure what Dalibor Bortnak is bringing to the ice lately, but for the second night he gets star honours without many points to back him up. I find it odd that Jimmy Bubnick who had 2G on the night didn’t get a nod for the home town selectors. The G’s have a week off before taking on the Bruins at the Coliseum on the 18th, for what seems like the hundredth time this fall, before their extended vacation over the holidays. Some of their crew will be heading to tournaments for their country or under 17’s over the break. The puck, as it usually does on Friday night, drops at 7:30pm PST.

Three Stars

1. Dalibor Bortnak
2. Craig Cunningham
3. Linden Saip