Vancouver Giants’ goaltender Trent Miner was not going to be beat on anything less than great on Monday at Sandman Centre.
He posted a shutout in a 4-0 victory over the Kamloops Blazers, who did not come close to great in their first defeat of the truncated WHL campaign.
Miner has not allowed a goal in three games this season.
Vancouver (4-1) seemed to manufacture more energy than Kamloops (4-1) in the first period in the empty building and was rewarded at 10:14, when Zack Ostapchuk got in alone on Blazers’ netminder Dylan Garand and went five-hole to make it 1-0.
Justin Sourdif outwaited Garand and shifted the puck to his backhand to slide it home at 11:34 of the second period, giving the Giants a two-goal cushion.
Justin Lies put Vancouver up 3-0 less than two minutes before the second intermission.
Kamloops had its chance to get back into the contest early in the third period on a five-minute power play, but looked dismal with the extra attacker.
Logan Stankoven had the best chance to score on the man advantage, but his one-timer was foiled by the left pad of Miner.
The Blazers’ power play was 0-for-4 on the night. Vancouver was 0-for-3 on the power play.
Adam Hall iced the game for the Giants at 17:14 of the third period.
Garand allowed four goals on 28 shots in his first defeat of the season.
Kamloops will next be in action on Friday, when the Victoria Royals (0-3-1-0) come to town. Game time is 7 p.m. at Sandman Centre.