The Vancouver Giants will play at least one more playoff game on home ice at Pacific Coliseum after they lost 3-2 to the Chiefs in Spokane Tuesday night in Game 3 of the WHL Western Conference quarterfinal.
Vancouver maintains a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is set for tonight in Spokane. The pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m. on AM 650. Game 5 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Vancouver.
After 14 goals in their first two games at home, Vancouver had a harder time putting the puck in the net on the road. Marek Tvrdon came up empty on a breakaway and Jordan Martinook, who led all scorers with eight points, couldn't hit his target on a penalty shot.
"Now we're in a playoff series. It was too easy in Vancouver," Giants coach Don Hay told reporters following the loss at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
Reid Gow played the heavy in Game 2 and last night in Spokane opened scoring just four minutes in to give the Chiefs an early advantage.
Building on their first lead in the series, the Chiefs went up 2-0 before the end of the first period on a goal from Blake Gal.
Cain Franson took a feed from Austin Fyten to score his fourth goal-his sixth point of the playoffs-and cut into Spokane's 2-1 lead.
As anticipated, the third period ground to a defensive halt. Vancouver registered six shots to Spokane's eight and both finished with a total 28.
With six minutes to play and Vancouver down a man, Martinook was hauled down and awarded a penalty shot. He missed and soon after the Chiefs again spread their lead to two goals when Corbin Baldwin beat Adam Morrison from the point to go up 3-1 with four minutes to play.
Brendan Gallagher cut into the Chiefs' lead but the Giants wouldn't come closer.
Spokane's Brenden Kichton, a native of Spruce Grove, Alta., was still in Vancouver after he took a puck in the face and broke his jaw in Game 1. The Province reported he remained in B.C. for surgery. Kichton was named the Western Conference's best defenceman and led the Chiefs with 17 goals and 74 points.
Twitter: @MHStewart
