The Vancouver Giants ended their season with a four-game losing streak, their only one on the year.
After netting 14 goals to take a 2-0 lead in the WHL Western Conference quarterfinal against the Spokane Chiefs, the Giants lost on the road, couldnt win at home and then relinquished Game 6 in the best-of-seven series Sunday night at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
Brendan Gallagher, who turns 20 later this year and who was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, set franchise records in his fourth and possibly final year in Giants colours. He is the clubs all-time scoring leader with 136 goals and 280 points in four seasons.
Its tough. I dont want to take this jersey off right now, he told Province reporter Steve Ewen Sunday night in Spokane following a 3-1 series- and season-ending loss to the home team.
Gallagher fought back tears. Overaged players Neil Manning, Austin Fyten and Adam Morrison will hang up their skates.
You think of the emotion a guy like Neil Manning is going through right now, said Gallagher. You think that hell never be able to put on the jersey again. You think of Adam and you think of Fyts.
The Giants finished one spot ahead of the Chiefs and beat them twice in the regular season. After scoring seven goals in each of the opening playoff games in Vancouver, they managed only six goals in the next four games. They lost 3-2 in regular time and then 3-2 in overtime to tie the series after two games on the road. That preceded a 5-1 loss on home ice. The Chiefs ended their winning streak with a 3-1 win.
Its so abrupt, so final and so disappointing, Giants head coach Don Hay told reporters Sunday. Youre not thinking its going to end and it suddenly ends.
Morrison played all six games between the pipes and stopped 153 shots for a .874 save percentage in the playoffs, a step up from .901 through 55 regular season games with Vancouver.
In their netminder Eric Williams, the Chiefs have a very solid young prospect. Williams, who turns 19 at the end of this month, replaced starting goaltender Mac Engel in Game 2 and never again played back-up. He pulled in four wins in four meetings against the Giants, stopping 96 of 102 shots for a .941 save percentage.
Spokane plays the Tri-City Americans in the second round. The winner of the best-of-seven series meets wither the Kamloops Blazers or the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Conference championship.
Twitter: @MHStewart
