WHL Preview: Vancouver at Tri-City

The Vancouver Giants look to break a two-game losing streak tonight when they visit the Tri-City Americans in the fourth and final meeting between the teams at 7:05 p.m. PST.

• Tri-City Americans: 33-22-1-2, 69 points; 193 GF, 175 GA, 5-5-0-0 in last ten
• Vancouver Giants: 15-43-2-0, 32 points; 161 GF, 256 GA, 3-5-2-0 in last ten

The Americans are coming off a pair of 6-2 wins over Portland (2/15) and Spokane (2/16) and look to extend their winning streak in tonight’s game, which is the second of a six-game homestand. After tonight’s game, the team with host Everett on Friday and Edmonton on Saturday before hosting Portland and Seattle next week.

Twenty-year-old center Justin Feser leads the Americans in goals, assists and points. Feser averages 1.36 points per game and has 79 points (32-47) in 58 games this season. Ten of his goals have come on the power play, with an additional three coming shorthanded.

Right winger Malte Stromwall has 48 points (16-32) in 53 games, while center Connor Rankin has 43 points on the season. Left wing Jesse Mychan leads Tri-City with 90 penalty minutes.

Goaltender Eric Comrie has appeared in 37 games for Tri-City, winning 20 and carrying a 2.62 GAA and .915 save percentage. He’s allowed just 95 goals on 1,118 shots faced, while Luke Lee-Knight has a 3.65 GAA and .890 save percentage.

The Vancouver Giants are coming off back-to-back losses to Portland and Seattle this past weekend. Tonight’s game marks the end of a four-game roadstand, as the team returns home for a pair of games against Kamloops and Seattle after tonight’s matchup against Tri-City.

Right wing Jackson Houck leads the Giants with 50 points this season, top on the team in goals (18), assists (32) and points.

Center Brendan Rouse has 43 points on the season, including 12 as a Giant, and center Cain Franson has 38 points (23-15) in 48 games.

Eight Giants players have fifty or more penalty minutes this season.

A pair of rookies have seen the most time in net for Vancouver, with Payton Lee appearing in 29 games and Tyler Fuhr playing in 15. Lee has a 3.54 GAA, .881 save percentage and has stopped 699 of 793 shots faced. Fuhr has a 4.74 GAA and .830 save percentage, stopping 289 of 348 shots faced.

Tri-City won the first matchup of the season 9-1, outshooting Vancouver 38-15. Thirteen Americans skaters had at least a point, with Justin Feser leading the team with a four-point night.

The second meeting of the year was a much closer game, as Tri-City edged Vancouver 4-3, despite being outshot 41-36.

Finally, the Americans defeated the Giants 9-5 on January 16, outshooting Vancouver 28-24. Thirteen Americans skaters and 11 Giants skaters had at least a point.