Thursday night at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, the Vancouver Giants (6-3) were 4-0 winners over the Victoria Royals (1-7-1-0). Justin Sourdif, Tristen Nielsen and Alex Kannok Leipert all registered a goal and an assist each while Drew Sim turned aside all 16 shots he faced to secure his first career WHL shutout. Evan Evanoff and Connor Martin combined for 36 saves in the Victoria net. It marked the third victory in as many tries for the Giants over the Victoria Royals.
1st Period:
No Scoring
Shots: 9-6 Vancouver
2nd Period:
VAN – 43 seconds into the second period, Justin Sourdif slid past the defense, took a feed from Tristen Nielsen and scored a beautiful forehand, backhand breakaway goal to stake his team to a 1-0 lead.
VAN – Giants captain Alex Kannok Leipert extended the Vancouver lead on a power play at 17:09. Kannok Leipert wired a shot past Adam Evanoff from the right wing circle. Justin Sourdif and goaltender Drew Sim earned the helpers. The goal came at 17:09.
VAN – 57 seconds later defenceman Mazden Leslie extended the Giants lead to 3-0 when he took the puck wide, slipped by the Royals defender and tucked a low sow past Adam Evanoff and home for his fifth of the season. Bryce Bader and Tanner Brown both assisted.
*Victoria goaltender Adam Evanoff was pulled at 18:06 of the second period.
Shots: 14-5 Vancouver
3rd Period:
VAN – The game’s final goal came courtesy of Tristen Nielsen on a power play at 7:14 of the final period. Nielsen one-timed home a feed from Zack Ostapchuk inside the right-wing circle to secure his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Alex Kannok Leipert earned the second assist on the goal which resulted in a Gordie Howe hat-trick.
Shots:17-5 Vancouver
Final Shots: 40-16 Vancouver
Drew Sim (2-1) – 16/16 saves for Vancouver
Adam Evanoff (0-5-1-0) – 19/22 saves for Victoria
Connor Martin – 17/18 saves for Victoria
Vancouver Power Play: 2/2
Victoria Power Play: 0/3
3 Stars:
1) Justin Sourdif (1G, 1A)
2) Alex Kannok Leipert (1G, 1A, And a fight)
3) Drew Sim (1A, Shutout)
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