Giants slip past Thunderbirds, take 2-1 series lead

The Vancouver Giants defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 6-4 in Game 3 of their first-round Western Hockey League playoff series Tuesday night at the accesso ShoWare Center.

Vancouver leads the best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game 4 at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at the ShoWare Center.

Matthew Wedman put the T-Birds in front 1-0 at 4:06 of the first period. Nolan Volcan took a shot from the neutral zone that rebounded off Vancouver goalie David Tendeck to the bottom of the left circle. Wedman fought through a Giants’ defenseman to get the puck and he beat Tendeck from the goal line with a wrist shot.

Vancouver tied the game 1-1 at 19:27 of the first on Tristen Nielsen’s power-play goal.

The Giants took a 2-1 lead at 3:21 of the second period on a goal from Bowen Byram.

The Giants were whistled for consecutive too many men penalties, and Seattle took a 3-2 lead on back-to-back power play goals.

Keltie Jeri-Leon found Wedman all alone in front of Tendeck. The Vancouver goalie made a right pad save on Wedman and the puck came to Payton Mount at the bottom of the left circle. Mount fired the puck past Tendeck at 8:40 of the second for his first goal of the playoffs.

Mount struck for a second time on the power play at 11:09 of the second. Volcan passed the puck to Simon Kubicek at the right point. Kubicek carried the puck to center ice a put a wrist shot on net. Mount tipped Kubicek’s shot past Tendeck.

Jadon Joseph tied the game 3-3 for the Giants at 18:48 of the second on the power play.

Vancouver took a 5-3 lead on goals by Alex Kannon Leipert 24 seconds into the third period and by Dallas Hines at 7:02 of the third.

Seattle cut the lead to one goal at 16:38 of the third. Sean Richards beat Tendeck with a slap shot from the left circle off assists from Kubicek and Tyszka.

The T-Birds pulled Ross with 1:24 left for an extra attacker. Seattle pressured the Giants in the offensive zone, but Brayden Watts was able to hit the empty net with 22 seconds left in the game.

Look ahead

For tickets and special group sales for Game 4, visit online, or drop by the ShoWare Center box office, which is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

SERIES GLANCE

Vancouver vs. Seattle, best-of-seven series

Game 1 – At Vancouver 7, Seattle 1

Game 2 – Seattle 4, Vancouver 1.

Game 3 – Vancouver 6, Seattle 4

Game 4 – Vancouver at Seattle Wednesday, March 27, 7:05 p.m.

Game 5 – Seattle at Vancouver Friday, March 29, 7:30 p.m.

Game 6 – Vancouver at Seattle Saturday, March 30, 7:05 p.m.*

Game 7 – Seattle at Vancouver Tuesday, April 2, 7 p.m.*

*if necessary

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Wedman 1 (Volcan, Tyszka), 4:06. 2, Vancouver, Nielsen 1 (Hardy, Svejkovsky), 19:27 (pp). Penalties – Byram, Van (cross checking), 11:20. Wedman, Sea (slashing), 11:20. McNelly, Sea (high-sticking), 17:28. Watts, Van (tripping), 19:53.

Second period – 3, Vancouver, Byram 2 (Svejkovsky, Nielsen), 3:21. 4, Seattle, Mount 1 (Wedman, Jeri-Leon), 8:40. 5, Seattle, Mount 2 (Kubicek, Volcan), 11:09 (pp). 6, Vancouver, Joseph 3 (Byram, Plouffe), 18:48. Penalties – Joseph, Van (tripping), :45. Kaluski, Sea (holding), 3:50. Bench, Van (too many men-served by Patrician), 7:44. Bench, Van (too many men-served by Patrician), 11:03. Holt, Van (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:24. Bryks, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:24. Plouffe, Van (hooking), 15:02. Tyszka, Sea (tripping), 17:44. Richards, Sea (roughing), 18:48. Roman, Van (roughing), 18:48.

Third period – 7, Vancouver, Kannok Leipert 1 (Dmytriw, Byram), :24. 8, Vancouver, Hines 1 (Koch, Nielsen), 7:02. 9, Seattle, Richards 2 (Kubicek, Tyszka), 16:38. 10, Vancouver, Watts 1 (Koch), 16:38 (en). Penalties – No penalties.

Shots on goal – Seattle 15-7-7 29, Vancouver 10-15-12 37. Goalies – Seattle, Ross 36 shots-31 saves (1-2); Vancouver, Tendeck 29-25 (1-0). Power plays – Seattle 2-5; Vancouver 2-3. A – 4,425. Referees – Duncan Brow, Fraser Lawrence. Linesmen – Brett Mackey, Michael McGowan.