I believe. The Giants seem to be getting hot at the right time of the season. Their deadline acquisitions have fit well into the mix and having a scoring euro once again has helped them offensively, giving their depth players more room to make plays and at the same time adding depth to the entire line-up with scoring threats. They won what was ostensibly a 3-2 game with a couple of timely EN goals to make it look more lop-sided than it was. The Blades had only lost 6 times on home ice before last night, so for the Vancouver squad to get the win in Saskatoon was a huge. For first time this season the Giants won their fourth straight game. Blades opened the scoring, but the Giants came back with two in the opening frame to take the lead into the first intermission. Both were power play markers. No scoring in the second. The Giants padded their lead in the third. The Blades made it close late in the final frame, but couldn’t quite get there as the G’s potted two EN goals to salt away the victory. The Blades opened the scoring, when Walker Wintoneak found the twine with an unassisted tally. The Giants used a PP just past the mid-way mark to tie the game. Neil Manning got the puck to go, getting helpers from Brendan Gallagher and Kevin Connauton. The Giants capitalised on their second and only other PP of the game a few minutes later, taking the lead for the first time. Milan Kytnar bulged the net, with James Wright and Tomas Vincour getting the other points. Neither team could find the net in the second, but despite being out-shot badly in the middle frame the Giants maintained their slim lead. Mark Segal was rock solid between the pipes for the G’s holding his team in the game until they could stretch their lead.

Gallagher put one past Steven Stanford at about the 6 minute mark of the third assisted by the always hard-working James Henry, who has been on a tear as of late. It took ‘til late in the game before Stefan Elliot got his team to back within one. The Blades then rolled the dice pulling their goalie late in the game, but lost the throw. Credit the Blades for trying everything to get the game back in their hands, but they ended up giving up two EN goals, both unassisted, to Cunningham and Gallagher to make the game look less close on the score sheet.

The Blades out shot the Giants 32-23, which is a rarity for the Giants not only to be out shot, but to be out shot by such a margin. The Giants were 2 for 2 on their PP, while holding the Blades to 0 for 6. Special teams were the difference in this one as well as the stellar net-minding of Segal, earning himself first star honours in the process. The Giants head up to Prince Albert on Saturday to take on the Raiders in their home barn. It’s a game the Giants should win, but they will need to keep their focus and intensity if they hope to get their fifth straight win. The puck drops in P.A. 7pm local time (CST).

Three Stars

1. Mark Segal
2. Walker Wintoneak
3. Darian Dziurzynski