Jordan Martinook tallied eight points in two games, Brendan Gallagher notched seven of his own, Cain Franson and Marek Tvrdon both added five, and the Vancouver Giants took a 2-0 WHL Western Conference series lead following one of their greatest offensive outputs all season.
The Giants defeated the Spokane Chiefs 7-5 Friday night at Pacific Coliseum and returned Saturday for a second decisive win, beating their American guests 7-3, as the best-of-seven series travels south for Game 3 on Tuesday and Game 4 on Wednesday.
Well take seven from the big guys every night if they want shoot it like that, said Giants bench boss Don Hay. I didnt expect us to score 14 goals in two games. Thats just the way the games went here. It wasnt great goaltending, and well take it and move on. It wont always be like that.
Fridays win marked the 102nd career playoff victory for Hay, who was tied with Portland Winterhawks coach Ken Hodge heading into Round 1, and is now at the top of the leaders board for all-time playoff wins. On Friday his record climbed to 103.
Ten Giants were on the scoreboard in the two playoff games, and Franson chipped in a hat-trick Friday.
Martinooks four goals and four assists against Spokane followed a 64-point, plus-15 regular season that included 80 penalty minutes and 40 goals.
Anything I can do for the team, said the six-foot-one left-shooting centre from Leduc, Alta. Everyone is playing good, were rolling four lines consistently. Weve got a two-nothing series lead so it doesnt matter whos getting the goals. Coming in to the series, we werent expecting this at all.
Martinook anticipated the series would take a decidedly defensive turn in Spokane against the Chiefs.
Everybody is different on home ice. Our sole focus is on Game 3 and putting their backs against the wall, he said. To put up 14 goals, thats something that we should be proud of but weve got to be prepared to not play like that down there, weve got to still keep our focus. Its a defensive series and thats how were going to play it.
The Giants led 5-0 Saturday after two periods but gave up three goals on 13 shots. Friday was a similar story. Leading 5-0 heading into the third period, the Giants allowed three goals on just six shots, including one on the power-play and another short-handed.
Spokane put more pucks on net, and Giants keeper Adam Morrison stopped 57 of 65 shots for a 0.87 save percentage to start the series.
Chiefs starting goaltender Mac Engel fared far worse between the pipes. The native of Red Deer, Alta., stopped 33 of 39 shots Friday but allowed five goals on 17 shots Saturday and was pulled before the end of the second period and replaced by Langleys 18-year-old Eric Williams. Engel has a dismal 7.56 GAA in the Chiefs two 2012 postseason games.
Spokanes frustration began to show Saturday. They took 46 penalty minutes and drew three 10-minute game misconduct calls (Vancouver took two). Reid Gow was called for goalie interference after his five-hole shot attempt was stopped and he nonetheless continued through the crease, crashed into Morrison and knocked the net off. A brawl broke out behind the Giants net and two players from each team were sent the dressing rooms.
Heading to Spokane with a two-game edge, the Giants expect to see more physicality from their opponent.
Theyre down so theyre going to come out hitting, thats their game, said centre Franson, who turned 19 Sunday, had 58 points through the regular season and was plus-26 in 70 games. They had some guys play that role and they come out looking because thats their job to do. If we bounce back and we push back and dont let them push us around well be fine.
The Giants beat the Chiefs in both regular-season meetings and edged into fourth place overall, ahead of Spokane by a single point.
Were confident with Spokane, said Franson. The preparation all week weve had with Don has really helped us. In a 72-game season, you dont get a lot of time to prepare for teams as much. But its a competitive series and its long from over so were just going to enjoy going to Spokane and keep it simple.
Puck drops Tuesday for Game 3 and Game 4 goes Wednesday. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
Twitter: @MHStewart
