It is not going to be another sweep.
The Vancouver Giants showcased their grit and tenacity in Tuesday night’s game three in Langley, to squeak past the Kamloops Blazers in a back and forth 3-2 affair and close the gap to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Despite winning the regular season series against Vancouver 10-1-1 (and finishing 46 points ahead of them in the standings), the Giants look like a new squad, playing three straight competitive battles in the playoff second round.
In game three, The Giants struck first halfway through the opening frame, as Justin Lies would score his first of the postseason, off of a Jaden Lipinski feed.
Photo Credit: Gary AhujaRight winger Justin Lies got the Giants on the board early.
In the second, the power play of both teams began showcasing their dominance. After the Giants took a too many men penalty, the Blazers struck just as the power play expired, with a rocket from Fraser Minten to tie the game up.
Blazers goaltender Dylan Garand made an unbelievable save on a breakaway minutes later, robbing Fabian Lysell.
Five minutes later, it was Vancouver’s turn with the extra man as they took advantage of an Ethan Brandwood tripping penalty, as Ty Thorpe buried the rebound from an Alex Cotton shot to go back up by one.
In the third period, a Tom Cadieux high sticking penalty sent the Blazers back to the man advantage. A Mats Lindgren point shot was redirected by Drew Englot in front to tie the game up.
With overtime on the horizon late in the third, it was the Blazers turn to head to the box, as this time Conner Levis' high stick was caught by a Giants player, sending Vancouver to the man advantage. Cotton then buried a bomb from the slot that put the Giants back up 3-2 with mere minutes left in the game.
Photo Credit: Gary AhujaIt was a chippy game throughout. The Giants went 2/2 with the extra man, while the Blazers could only capitalize on 1 of 6 power plays.
The Giants then held on despite a hectic frenetic finish to the game, as Giants goaltender Jesper Vikman somehow kept out the puck in a chaotic goalmouth scramble with four seconds left.
Vikman made 34 saves on the night for Vancouver, while the Blazers Garand stopped 32.
Game four goes Thursday at 7 pm from the Langley Events Centre as the Giants look to tie things up.
