Kelowna Rockets topple the Vancouver Giants 5–2 in Langley, despite late power-play sparks. Coach Burgess urges more urgency ahead of next matchup.
Giants Struggle to Keep Up as Rockets Soar
The Vancouver Giants couldn’t quite light the lamp enough on Saturday night, falling 5–2 to the visiting Kelowna Rockets at the Langley Events Centre. Despite flashes of brilliance, the Giants were outpaced early and never fully recovered.
Ethan Mittelsteadt and Aaron Obobaifo netted both Vancouver goals — each coming on the power play — but the comeback effort ran out of steam.
Early Deficit Sets the Tone
It didn’t take long for Kelowna to make noise. Less than three minutes in, the Rockets’ Tij Iginla found the back of the net, giving the visitors an instant boost. Vancouver answered quickly when Mittelsteadt fired a point shot home during a power play, tying things up.
But Kelowna wasn’t done. A deflected point shot by Henderson put them back ahead 2–1 before the first intermission, and just seconds into the second period, the Rockets stretched the lead to 3–1 on a power-play bounce that left the Giants reeling.
By the midpoint, Iginla struck again, deking past the goalie for his third of the season and a 4–1 advantage.
Giants’ Late Push Falls Short
Down two goals entering the final frame, the Giants came out swinging. They peppered Rockets’ goaltender Josh Banini with 19 shots, finally breaking through when Obobaifo slipped one under his arm during a 6-on-4 rush.
But any hope of a rally vanished when Wetsch sealed the deal with an empty-netter, closing the night at 5–2.
Banini was a wall for Kelowna, finishing with 31 saves on 33 shots.
Coach Burgess Calls for a Faster Start
After the loss, Giants head coach Parker Burgess didn’t mince words.
“We were a little flat to start,” Burgess admitted. “Just not enough urgency right off the bat. We found our game in the third, but it was a B-game for most of the night. Their goalie played well, and a few bad bounces didn’t help — but you’ve got to earn your luck.”
With the defeat, Vancouver’s record slips to 7–8–0–1, while Kelowna climbs to 5–5–1–1.
Eyes Ahead to the Next Challenge
The Giants won’t have much time to dwell. They’re back on home ice Sunday afternoon, hosting the Prince George Cougars at 4 p.m. at Langley Events Centre.
Fans will be hoping for a faster start — and a finish that matches their third-period fire.
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