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Vancouver Giants scored 2 power play goals in a 3-1 over Kelowna

Rockets denied sweep

The Kelowna Rockets were plain and simply outworked on special teams.

Head coach Adam Foote said that was the difference in their 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Giants Sunday afternoon at Prospera Place.

"We just got outworked. They swarmed us...they got their two against our one or three against our two, and we have the extra guy," said Foote.

"That can't happen. Then we lost coverage on two goals. We just didn't work away from the puck."

Foote said you have to be good on special teams to be successful, and they just weren't Sunday.

The Giants struck early with the man advantage on Michal Kvasnica's one-timer off a perfect backdoor pass from Eric Florchuk.

It looked as if that goal may hold up, as the Giants did a good job of keeping the Rockets to the outside for much of the game.

When they did get chances close in, David Tendeck was there to shut the door.

Matthew Wedman had good chances in the first and third, and Connor McDonald as denied all alone in the slot in the second.

"It was more about capitalizing on our chances," said Wedman.

"I thought we had the edge five-on-five, and we just didn't manage to put in our chances."

Kvasnica and Florchuk teamed up to make it 2-0 nine minutes into the third with the Rockets pressing for the equalizer.

Kvasnica's wrist shot from the point appeared to beat a screened Roman Basran.

Holden Katzalay made it 3-0 on a late power play.

Alex Swetlikoff got that back seconds later, but, with the Rockets were unable to generate much, even with Basran on the bench for the final two minutes.

The Giants won Sunday despite being forced to play two men short. They also lost Kelowna native Connor Horming late in the third after he was taken into the boards awkwardly by Mark Liwiski.

Sunday's loss snapped the Rockets modest two-game winning streak.

They'll look to rebound Friday night when Spokane come to town.



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