Despite goals from Tyler Thorpe and Caden Cail, Vancouver Giants fell just short in their preseason opener on Saturday night, Sept. 7, with Victoria Royals edging the G-Men 3-2 at Jon Baillie Arena in Port Coquitlam.
It was the first game action for either side, and special teams played a big factor in the decision. Victoria went 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Giants went 0-for-2.
Royals got power play goals from Wyatt Danyleyko and Nolan Stewart to take a 2-0 lead just under six minutes into the first period, but Tyler Thorpe responded for the Giants with a wrap-around goal to cut the lead to 2-1 with under two minutes remaining in the opening frame.
No goals were scored in the second, but the Giants managed to get the equalizer 3:58 into the third period when Damian Palmieri got a shot through from the left point that was deflected in by Cail to even the score 2-2.
The Royals re-took the lead just a few minutes later when 16-year-old Alger-East went top corner.
The G-Men only managed seven shots on goal in the period, all of which were turned aside by goaltender Jayden Kraus, who played the second half of the game for the Royals.
The teams play the rematch today at 2 p.m. at Jon Baillie Arena.
