The night opened with the national anthem performed by Canucks’ fan favorite, Mark Donnelly. His trademark audience participation helped get the crowd into the game. Mr. Donnelly is a class act — he signed autographs and posed for photos during the 1st and 2nd intermissions, and I learned he appreciates when fans are polite.

“Thank you for saying please!” he said. “I’m teaching my children they need to say ‘please’ each and every time.” I have my parents to thank for basic manners.

The home team didn’t say ‘please’ on this night, however. From the opening faceoff the Royals attacked with a relentless forecheck. The pace was fast and furious. Centre Logan Nelson connected early on with a huge shoulder on Vancouver captain Wes Vannieuwenhuizen. Shortly thereafter the Giants failed to capitalize on a 3-on-1, when Patrik Polivka stopped the shot low glove side.

Just over five minutes in, the Royals had their first power play opportunity after an elbow called on Scott Cooke. The Giants blocked many shots, forced many turnovers and prevented the Royals’ powerplay from gathering any momentum. Just seconds after Cooke left the penalty box, Ben Walker put the Royals up 1-0.

Unfortunately I missed the first 10 minutes of the second period. I will not apologize because I had the pleasure of meeting the aforementioned Mark Donnelly. A few minutes after we took our seats, Jamie Crooks delivered a gorgeous long bomb to a streaking Brandon Magee on the right wing. Magee made no mistake on the breakaway, beating Liam Liston five hole.

Just 36 seconds later Nelson and Alex Gogolev went in 2-on-1. Nelson delivered a silky smooth saucer pass to Gogolev who one-timed his first goal of the year, putting the Royals up 3-0 and sending the home crowd into hysterics.

Near the end of the second period, Giants winger Marek Tvrdon had a golden opportunity, receiving a pass from behind the net but Polivka was there to make a great blocker save. Tvrdon slammed his stick in frustration — he had the Czech keeper dead to rights but couldn’t seal the deal.

The Giants came out flying and determined to get back into the game in the third. Polivka was forced to make a couple of early saves. Much of the action stayed in the Royals’ end. A few seconds after a successful Royals penalty kill — the first of the game, as the Giants didn’t get the benefit of a power play through 40 minutes — fourth-year winger Nathan Burns put the Giants on the board with an outstanding skate from behind the net, placing a backhander over the shoulder blocker side. The goal looked eerily similar to Cain Franson‘s first goal against the Royals the previous night, suggesting the book on Polivka is in the middle of being written early this season.

With 27 seconds left in the game, Franson scored his third goal of the young season, a PP goal to bring the visitors within one. It was too little, too late. The Giants had one last attack but Magee made a desperate, heroic, last second block into his chest.

Polivka deserves a round of applause for stopping the highly talented Vancouver Giants. He stopped 23 of 25 on the night for his second win in a row to start the season. His early saves built confidence and frustrated the Giants.

It was a chippy game as Giants forward Tanner Moar delivered a big clean check near the end of the game. Rookie Kolton Dixon was assessed an instigator penalty as he pounced on Moar after what appeared to be a check from behind. The review confirmed it was a clean shoulder to shoulder check.

Steven Hodges was awarded the “Hardest Working Player of the Game”: a well-deserved nod as Hodges was all over the place tonight.

3 Stars: (3) Patrik Polivka (VIC), (2) Logan Nelson (VIC), (1) Alex Gogolev (VIC)

Not only does Adrian Charlie write a movie blog, he also has 200 more followers on Twitter than I do. We here at Pucked in the Head greatly appreciate his first post for the blog!