The Vancouver Giants could not return the favour and spoil the Everett Silvertips home opener.
One night after the ’Tips hammered the Giants 7-3 at the Langley Events Centre, the teams made the trek to Everett with the home side winning 3-1 at the XFINITY Arena.
The loss drops Vancouver to 0-2 to start the Western Hockey League season.
In the first game, Everett scored four times in the first dozen minutes before cruising to the victory. But Saturday’s rematch was a much tighter affair.
Everett’s Graham Millar opened the scoring with the teams playing four-on-four just 3:30 into the game.
Vancouver’s Jack Flaman tied the score late in the middle frame, scoring his second goal in as many games, hammering a rebound past Lasse Peterson. But less than two minutes later, Matt Fonteyne got in behind the Giants defence and slid the puck between goaltender Ryan Kubic’s legs.
Brett Kemp added an insurance marker early in the third as Everett capitalized on a two-man advantage.
The Giants mustered just 13 shots on goal while Kubic finished with 28 saves.
Vancouver is back in action on Sept. 27 as the Prince George Cougars visit the Langley Events Centre with a 7 p.m.puck drop on Las Vegas Trip Giveaway night.
Giants make move
Following Friday night’s loss, Vancouver acquired 1988-born winger Taden Rattie from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for a sixth round bantam draft pick in 2017.
“(Taden’s) a big forward who will bring some size and grit to our lineup right away,” said Giants general manager Glen Hanlon.
The six-foot-four, 191-pound 18-year-old forward played 25 games for the Rebels last season, scoring one goal.
He finished -1 with two penalty minutes in his Vancouver debut on Saturday night.
