For the third time in their 18-year history, the Vancouver Giants have finished first in the Western Conference standings. Friday night in front of a crowd of 4560 at the Langley Events Centre, the Vancouver Giants (48-15-2-2) defeated the Kelowna Rockets (26-32-6-2) by a 2-1 score.
Giants defenceman Dylan Plouffe broke open a 1-1 tie with a power play goal at 16:50 of the third period to help give the Giants their sixth win of the season against Kelowna and their 26th win of the season on home ice. Alex Kannok Leipert added his fifth goal in the second period for the Giants who, with the Western Conference regular season championship will now face the Seattle Thunderbirds in Round 1.
The Kelowna Rockets lone goal came from Kyle Crosbie. They now head into their final regular season game against Vancouver tied with Kamloops with an identical record and the final available playoff spot in the Western Conference.
