Overview:
The Vancouver Giants are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over the Kelowna Rockets. The Giants record currently sits at 12-8-0-1 and they are ranked second in the B.C. Division. The Giants have won three straight, and are 8-2 in their last 10 games.
Who’s Up Front:
Offensively the Vancouver Giants are led by 19-year-old forward Brendan Gallagher. Gallagher has 29 points in 17 games, and is averaging a goal per game this season with 17. Gallagher is especially dangerous on the power play, and is a great puck handler as well.
Who’s on D:
Offensively the Giants defense core is led by Edmonton Oiler’s prospect David Musil. The 18-year-old blueliner has 11 points in 21 games and is a +8 on the season. Musil has proven to be steady and reliable at both ends of the ice this season.
Who’s in Goal:
Adam Morrison got the call last night for the Giants in their 3-2 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. Morrison has a record of 11-4-0-1 and has beaten the Cougars twice this season. Morrison’s backup is 16-year-old Jackson Whistle who is still searching for his first WHL victory. Whistle’s last appearance came back on October 29th against the Prince George Cougars.
X-Factor:
The Vancouver Giants continue to get solid production from rookie forward Marek Tvrdon. Tvrdon had the OT winner last night for the Giants and has tallied 23 points in 20 games this season. Tvrdon is also very dangerous on the power play. His slap shot is widely used, and the Cougars will need do their best to stay disciplined and minimize the Giants chances on the man-advantage.
Who’s Up Front:
The Prince George Cougars got another goal last night from Spencer Asuchak who has now tallied three times in the last two games. The 20-year-old is starting to play with a lot more confidence, and it certainly helps when he’s got two great linemates in Alex Forsberg and Troy Bourke. If the Cougars want to find success tonight in Vancouver, these three will need to be key contributors again.
Who’s on D:
Through 15 games, Martin Marincin has shown that he’s a real game-breaker when he wants to be. Although guilty of sometimes trying to do a little ‘too much’, Marincin provides the Cougars with instant offense on the back-end. If Marincin is able to use his many strengths to his advantage tonight, the Cougars will be right there with Vancouver.
Who’s In Goal:
After two starts in a row this weekend, it looks like Drew Owsley will get the night off for the Cougars, and Devon Fordyce will get his third career start. Fordyce was excellent on Saturday, November 5th against Kamloops and he showed that he can rise up, and beat good teams. The Cougars defense will need to help Fordyce, and clear the traffic in front of him. If Fordyce can keep it simple and focused, theres absolutely no reason why he won’t be able to defeat Vancouver tonight.
X-Factor:
A common x-factor this season for the Cougars has been discipline. When they stay disciplined they are successful. The Cougars have a record of 1-7 when surrendering a power play goal against, and the ultimate key to beating Vancouver will be staying disciplined and opportunistic on their opportunities. The Cougars power play has scored in three straight games, and if they can win the special-teams battle tonight, they’ll have a great chance at earning their seventh victory of the season.
No comments:
Post a Comment