Giants 4 Americans 3

Dave Sheldon – Vancouver Giants
October 29, 2008

Andrej Kudrna ties it up in the third! (Chris Relke photo)

Vancouver BC – The Vancouver Giants scored two highlight reel goals in the third period and came from behind to defeat the Tri City Americans 4-3.

Vancouver, now 11-0-0-3 on the season, had their hands full in this one. Casey Pierro-Zabotel opened the scoring just 1:19 into period one. Craig Schira pinched in from the right point to keep a Tri City clearing attempt in the Americans zone. Schira slid a pass to a fast moving Evander Kane, who walked into the top of the slot and fired a rocket that crashed off the crossbar behind American's net minder Chet Pickard. Pierro-Zabotel was able to swoop in on the rebound and deposit it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Before the end of the period, the Americans would strike twice to take the lead, both goals coming courtesy of the power play. Kruise Reddick was able to convert on nice passing from the goalie Pickard and Tri City Captain Taylor Procyshen. Reddick wrists home a shot blocker side on Sexsmith to knot things up at one.

Three minutes later, the Americans would have their first lead of the evening. On the power play once again, sixteen year old Justin Feser would score his sixth goal of the season. The Red Deer, AB., native would show some soft hands, taking a pass from Reddick out front and lifting a nice backhander under the crossbar from five feet out. Just like that the Giants were down a goal. The score would remain 2-1 after one period of play.

The Giants stormed out of the gates in the second period, putting some major pressure on the Americans. Some great work along the end boards led to Vancouver tying the game. Lance Bouma was able to win the battle along the wall and slipped a pass to Craig Cunningham. Cunningham was able to come out from behind the Americans net and wrap one in past Pickard that just crossed the goal line. Tie game 2-2. For Cunningham, it was his fourth consecutive game scoring a goal...the Trail BC product gets his fifth of the season and Vancouver is back to square.

The Giants continued to apply pressure to the Americans throughout the second period, but Pickard was sharp and made a great glove save on Craig Schira to keep the game even. Late in the period, after Giants goalie Tyson Sexsmith stoned Tyler Schmidt with a stunning glove save, the Americans would once again regain the lead...courtesy of the just robbed Schmidt. Good fore-checking by the Americans prevented the G-Men from clearing their zone. The puck found it's way back to Schmidt at the right point, and a well placed shot from 45 feet weaved through traffic and found the back of the Giants net with 34 seconds left in the period. Schmidt's fourth of the season gave the Tri City gang a two period lead of 3-2, despite being outshot 16-9 in the period.

Going into period three, the Giants had their work cut out for them. Tri-City, the defending WHL regular season champs, were 5-0 already this season when leading after forty minutes and seemed very content to make the Giants fight through endless neutral zone pressure to create their chances. Tri City would also continue to apply pressure in the offensive zone, and a nice outlet pass by Brendan Gallagher would lead to a Andrej Kudrna magic show. Kudrna, taking the pass at centre ice, came in 1 on 2 versus Mitch McColm and Scott Maetche. Kudrna would give one of the best outside then inside moves that you are going to see on McColm, leaving him behind at the Americans blue line. Now ahead of both defenders, Kudrna held off a helping Maetche and was able to snap a shot past Pickard to tie things at 3-3, 8:07 into period three.

Two and a half minutes later, more great passing from their own end led to the game winner by Nunn. James Wright was able to strip the puck from a forechecking Petr Stoklasa and chip the puck to Jonathon Blum. Blum hammered an outlet pass around the back wall that found a streaking Garry Nunn just inside his own blueline. Catching the Tri City defence pairing of Drew Hoff and Eric Mestery flat-footed, Garry Nunn turned on the jets and was able to give himself a clean breakaway from the Tri-City blueline. A nice forehand to back hand deke had Nunn deposit the puck top shelf past Pickard for the game winner at 10:37 of the third period.

Both goalies played well on the evening, making game saving saves for each of their teams. Tyson Sexsmith earns the win, turning aside 19 of 22 shots for the win while Chet Pickard suffers the loss, even though he stopped 36 of 40 shots fired his way.

The Giants will get a chance to see Brayden Schenn and the Brandon Wheat Kings this coming Saturday night at the Coliseum. Schenn, younger brother of former Kelowna Rockets and current Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn, was last year's WHL Rookie of the Year. Schenn is expected to land in the TOP 10 in the upcoming NHL draft in Ottawa this June and this game will be a showdown of sorts between Schenn and fellow Top 10 projected forward,, Vancouver's Evander Kane.

You can catch all of the Giants action on SUPERHITS 650 CISL. Dave Sheldon and Bill Wilms will have the call from the Rink on Renfrew. Pre game show will be at 6:30, with the puck drop at 7 p.m.

Everyone in attendance will also have a chance to win a trip for two for six nights to Mexico, courtesy of Advantage Prime Travel and Alaska Airlines. To find out more details, buy a ticket and we'll see you at the game!