Hello, Western Hockey League. Do the Vancouver Giants have your attention yet?
It took the best part of six years, but the Giants won their first playoff game since March 24, 2012, with a 2-1 victory over the Victoria Royals in the lacerating opening game of their Western Conference quarter-final series Friday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
All because of a Miner who is some minor.
Giants goaltender Trent Miner is a 17-year-old rookie called up from Midget in January and who had only nine previous games of WHL experience heading into Friday night. Miner was pressed into action with Western Conference second-team all-star David Tendeck injured, and was outstanding in making 40 saves.
The Royals, particularly Tanner Kaspick and Matthew Phillips, threw everything they had at him, but Miner stood his ground.
“We had a lot of pucks go through the crease and we hit posts and crossbars. But that’s how playoff hockey goes,” said Royals captain Phillips.
Victoria goaltender Griffen Outhouse was also terrific with 31 saves, but the story was Miner.
“We had a lot of the play, and a lot of good opportunities, so we’re not worried,” said Kaspick, who played with heart and desire.
The Giants have missed the playoffs the past three seasons and four of the last five years. They have to be elated to have won Friday, even without 61-goal scorer Ty Ronning and high second-round Edmonton Oilers draft pick Tyler Benson scoring.
“Tonight was just one plot point in a story that we understand will have its ups and downs,” said Royals coach Dan Price.
“The key for us is to stay level and consistent and not change.”
Yet the B.C. Division third-seed Giants suddenly have the second-seed Royals under some pressure heading into Game 2 tonight in the Memorial Centre before the series shifts to the Langley Events Centre for the third and fourth games Tuesday and Thursday.
Victoria is facing a distressing injury situation. That has now turned into a major storyline in the series. The Royals weremissing second-leading scorer Tyler Soy and the heart of its defence in veterans Ralph Jarratt and Montreal Canadiens third-round draft pick Scott Walford.
Forward Dino Kambeitz joined that list Friday.
In some much-needed good news in terms of additions, gritty Red Wings-prospect Lane Zablocki returns for Game 2 after sitting out two games to suspension.
Vancouver finally solved Outhouse at 5:28 of the second period through Milos Roman. Kaspick, showing why the St. Louis Blues have him under contract, ripped the puck home at 11:36 to tie it for Victoria. But a Matt Barberis deflection turned out to be the winner with less than two minutes remaining in the second period.
Miner was under pressure early as Victoria had seven minutes of power plays in the first 8 1/2 minutes, including a five-minute major and game misconduct to Vancouver defenceman Darian Skeoch, for a head-snapping high hit on Kambeitz.
If this series is going to come down to Victoria’s league sixth-ranked power play against Vancouver’s tied-for-fourth penalty kill, then the Giants made a statement in holding the Royals 0-4.
Adding to the dramatics, Giants forward and former Royal Jared Dmytriw was stopped on a penalty shot by Outhouse.
