The 2019 Rogers WHL Championship Series is shifting back to the Lower Mainland with the series tied 1-1. Saturday night in Prince Albert, SK the Vancouver Giants fell 4-0 to the Prince Albert Raiders in Game 2. Dante Hannoun led the way with a goal and two assists for the Raiders while Parker Kelly chimed in with two assists. Ian Scott stopped all 15 shots he faced in the Raiders net to secure his fourth playoff shutout. David Tendeck stopped 30 of the 33 shots fired his way in the Vancouver net. The Giants will now play their next three games on home ice as Game 3 is set for Tuesday at 7:00 PM at the Langley Events Centre.
1st Period:
PA – 10:17 into the game, Dante Hannoun (11) gave the Raiders their first lead of the series when he converted off a Parker Kelly feed from in front of the Giants goal.
Shots: 15-6 Prince Albert
2nd Period:
PA – After failing to capitalize on a pair of power play chances to start the period, the Raiders eventually increased their lead to 2-0 when Sergei Sapego’s shot from the top of the left-wing circle snuck under the bar and in at 7:43. Sapego’s third of the playoffs was assisted by both Dante Hannoun and Parker Kelly.
PA – Noah Gregor (9) increased Prince Albert’s lead to 3-0 at 10:39 of the middle frame on a power play. Gregor parked himself atop the right-wing circle and one-timed a feed from Dante Hannoun past David Tendeck.
Shots: 12-4 Prince Albert
3rd Period:
PA – At 18:39 of the final period, Brett Leason solidified the victory for the Raiders with an empty-net goal. Leason’s seventh of the playoffs was assisted by Aliaksei Protas and Brayden Pachal.
Shots: 7-5 Prince Albert
Next Game: Game 3 will take place Tuesday night at 7:00 PM at the Langley Events Centre.
NOTES:
– Saturday night’s loss marked the first regular loss in the playoffs for the Giants since Game 4 of Round 1 against Seattle (March 27th).
– For just the second time in 16 playoff games, the Giants did not record a power play goal.
– Saturday marked the first time in a span of 17 playoff games that the Giants were shutout.
– Raiders defenceman Max Martin left the game in the second period with an apparent upper-body injury. He did not return to the game.
