Pre-Game Report: Giants vs. Winterhawks

The Vancouver Giants (27-22-7-3) will host the Portland Winterhawks (41-12-2-3) on Saturday night at the Pacific Coliseum in the third of four meetings between the two teams this season. The Giants are 0-1-1-0 against Portland this year. If the playoffs began on Saturday, the two teams would face each other in the opening round.

The G-Men will look to bump a four game losing skid after falling 2-1 in overtime to the Everett Silvertips on Friday night. After the loss, Vancouver now sits in seventh in the Western Conference, four points ahead of the eighth place Tri-City Americans. Prior to the game on Saturday, former Giant and current Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher will be inducted into the Ring of Honour. The 21-year-old holds the Giants franchise records for both goals (136) and points (280) in a career.

The Winterhawks are coming off a 7-4 win against the Kamloops Blazers on Friday night. The Portland club has won its last 15 consecutive games but remains nine points behind the Western Conference leading Kelowna Rockets. Delta native Nic Petan leads the WHL in scoring with 31 goals and 67 assists while Danish forward Oliver Bjorkstrand is third in the league with 40 goals and 45 assists. Brendan Leipsic is also in the top 10 in league scoring.

Where: Pacific Coliseum

When: 7:00pm

Tickets: Visit vancouvergiants.com or call 604-4-GIANTS

Listen: TEAM 1040 and teamradio.ca (The Pre-Game Show starts at 6:30pm.)