The Vancouver Giants played an inspired second period against the Kelowna Rockets on Friday night, even managing to score twice on the power play, but it wasn’t enough. It’s becoming a familiar storyline this season, as the Giants were tied against the high-flying visitors after forty minutes, but surrendered two unanswered goals midway through the third for yet another loss. The Giants sit squarely in the Western Hockey League basement with 18 points in 35 games played.

More after the jump.

Of the many itches the Giants can’t seem to scratch this year, the man advantage has been one of the most frustrating. Even after going two for five in tonight’s loss, Vancouver has converted just 14.4% of their power plays since opening night — that’s 17 goals on 188 chances. Still, having special teams put a brace by an opposition goalie is one of those moral victories that losing sides need to grapple onto in order to move forward with the season.

Vancouver trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes, but everything clicked in the second period as they outshot the Rockets 19-3 and outscored them 3-1. Cain Franson missed a penalty shot near the end of the second period, but was able to put a backhand past Kelowna goaltender Jackson Whistle with under five seconds to play in the period. The middle period alone was worth the price of admission for the large crowd of 9,414 who came down to the Pacific Coliseum for some post-Christmas puck.

Unfortunately, the G-men were unable to reproduce that solid two-way hustle in the final frame, and the visitors scored once on the power play and once shorthanded to salt away the victory. The win was the eighth in nine games for the Rockets, who now sit just two points back of the powerhouse Kamloops Blazers for the BC Division lead.

The Giants are on the road Saturday, December 29 as they play those very same Blazers in Kamloops at 7pm. They head home for their third game in three nights, a 4pm puck drop against the Prince George Cougars on Sunday, December 30.