Cranbrook, BC – Vancouver Giant forward Evander Kane had 2 goals and 1 assist in 4-1 win over the Kootenay ICE in WHL action on Friday night.
Vancouver opened the scoring with the club’s skating 4-on-4 as newly acquired defenseman Nick Ross fired a wrist shot that beat the goalie who was screened by 2 Giants players.
On a power-play the Giants made it 2-0 as Evander Kane stuffed in his 23rd goal of the season.
Kane scored his 2nd of the game on a 3-on-2 break.
ICE scored on a 3rd period as John Negrin fired a slap shot from the point that beat the screened goalie.
Vancouver ended the scoring as James Henry’s attempted pass hit an ICE leg and deflected through the goalies’ legs.
Disappointing news for ICE forward Dustin Sylvester, who on Friday night had another surgery on his broken ankle. The ICE doctors didn’t feel the work done in Lethbridge 2 weeks ago was completed successfully. This probably means he will not return to the line-up this season.
Newly acquired forward Ryan Fox has arrived in Cranbrook but will not play this weekend because of a knee injury. He’ll make his ICE debut next week.
Saturday the ICE host Calgary.
Game Summary
Vancouver 33-3-0-3 Kootenay 19-18-2-4
1st Period
1. Vancouver, Ross 5 (Kane, Pierro-Zabotel) 17:39
Penalties – Bouma Van McNabb Ktn (roughing) 16:25.
2nd Period
2. Vancouver, Kane 23 (Pierro-Zabotel, Regener) 14:01 pp
Penalties – Antilla Ktn (tripping) 9:56, Stickland Ktn (interference) 13:13, Rodgers Van (hooking) 15:08, Bouma Van (interference) 17:40.
3rd Period
3. Vancouver, Kane 24 (2) (Pierro-Zabotel, Nunn) 8:53
4. Kootenay, Negrin 5 (King, Fraser) 15:00 pp
5. Vancouver, Henry 8 (Gallagher, Manning) 18:47
Penalties – Kennedy Van Machacek Ktn (fighting) 10:34, Nunn Van (hooking) 11:23, Kudrna Van (interference) 14:20.
Shots on goal by
Vancouver – 15 – 10 – 7 = 32
Kootenay - 5 - 7 - 7 = 10
Goal (shots-saves) – Vancouver: Tyson Sexsmith (W 22-3-0-2) Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (L 12-11-0-2)
Power plays (goals-chances) - Vancouver: 1/2 Kootenay: 1/4
Referees – Derek Zalaski, Ryan Bonnett
Linesmen – Chris Carlson, Michael Roberts
Attendance – 3,086