Gallagher ties record, helps to tip Silvertips

First- period goal sparks Giants to 3- 2 victory

There was no reason for Brendan Gallagher to keep ’ em waiting Friday night.

Needing one goal to tie Adam Courchaine’s franchise record of 126, the Vancouver Giants captain nailed it during the first period to lead his team to a 3- 2 victory over the Everett Silvertips before a crowd of 6,089 at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.

Gallagher’s record- tying strike was no cheapie either. He collected a pass from longtime teammate Neil Manning, streaked down the left wing and whistled a wrister far side past Everett netminder Kent Simpson.

Gallagher, who moved from Edmonton to Delta at age 12, recalls seeing Courchaine do his thing. The latter was a slick centreman and a member of the Western Hockey League Giants from 2002- 05. Gallagher, by contrast, is a gritty under- sized right- winger. He’s in his fourth WHL season.

“To be mentioned in the same sentence as Adam is pretty cool,” said Gallagher, who hit the post early in the third period and had several other quality chances to pass Courchaine.

“He was a very explosive, dynamic player in that Giant uniform. When I’d come to the rink, my dad would obviously tell me to watch the top guys and learn from them. Adam was exciting to watch every night.”

The goal, at the 13: 27 mark, was also a game- changer. The Giants were trailing 1- 0 at the time and appeared to be on their heels against the U. S. Division’s bottom- feeding Silvertips. At one point in the period, Vancouver was trailing 9- 5 on the shot clock.

The Giants took it home from there.

Manning converted on the power play three minutes after the Gallagher goal and then Cain Franson connected six minutes into the second to make it 3- 1. An outstanding 5- on- 3 penalty kill for 1: 02 midway through the middle period was a further boost to the Giants’ fortunes.

Jari Erricson, in the first, and Reid Petryk, in the game’s final minute, tallied for Everett.

The Giants’ win had significance behind the bench as well as it was the 548th of Don Hay’s career, tying him with Ernie ( Punch) Mclean for third all- time in the WHL. Ken Hodge is the runaway No. 1 at 742, followed by Saskatoon’s Lorne Molleken ( 554). Both Molleken and Hay figure to be in the league a while longer and may jockey for that No. 2 position behind Hodge.

The Giants have won all four meetings over Everett this season. They play twice more — tonight back in Everett and again next Saturday down the I- 5.

Tonight’s game is the start of a three- game road trip for the Giants, who meet the Americans in Tri- City on Tuesday and the Chiefs in Spokane on Wednesday.

The Giants, who stand fifth in the Western Conference, trail Spokane by two points.