Giants no match for star-less Tri-City
Surrey native out with injury
A lower-body injury to Surrey native Michael Rasmussen kept the Langley Events Centre faithful on Monday from getting another close look at the Tri-City Americans centre projected to be a first-rounder in June’s NHL draft.
The Americans still beat the Vancouver Giants 5-3 before an announced crowd of 4,145 at the LEC.
Tri-City (32-23-3-0) holds down the third and final direct playoff spot of the U.S. Division. They’re two points up on the Portland Winterhawks (31-231-2), who sit in the second of two wild-card playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Monday marked TriCity’s final game this season against Vancouver.
The Giants (18-35-2-3), who are last in the 10-team West, dropped their third in a row and 11th in 12 starts (19-1-1). The Giants are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third straight season and fourth time in five years.
Tri-City general manager Bob Tory said that Rasmussen, who skates exceedingly well for someone who measures six foot six and weighs 215 pounds, is sidelined “day-to-day,” and tagged him as “probable” for TriCity’s home game Wednesday against the Red Deer Rebels.
Rasmussen, 17, was injured in a 5-1 win over the Everett Silvertips on Feb. 1 and had missed three straight games before Sunday’s trip to play Vancouver. Tri-City had dropped all three of those games. He had 32 goals, 23 assists and a minus-13 rating in 50 games so far this season.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie placed Rasmussen at No. 7 in his midseason draft rankings that came out Jan. 31. ISS Hockey also had him at No. 7 for its poll released Feb. 1, while McKeen’s Hockey slotted Rasmussen at No. 4 in its December rankings.
Here’s Tory’s scouting report: “Complete 200-foot game. Leader on and off ice. Mature. Prepares like a pro. Extremely focused and determined. Excellent teammate.”
The Americans have another potential first-rounder in Finnish defenceman Juuso Valimaki, 18. ISS had him at No. 11 in their latest rankings.
The 6-foot-2, 204-pound left-handed shot had no points Sunday, but was a plus two. He has 16 goals, 31 assists and a minus-two rating in 46 games this season.
Ryan Kubic sparkled in the Vancouver net in Monday’s game, making several highlight-reel stops in his 35-save effort.