Netminder Burke Hood is the main reason the Vancouver Giants won the first game of a home-and-home series against Wenanchee Wild at Langley Events Centre 2-1 on Saturday.
Hood allowed just one goal and made 19 third-period saves to stave off a late burst of activity by the visitors.
Wild outshot the Giants 39-20.
Kaleb Hartmann scored his first goal in a Giants uniform while Jakob Oreskovic celebrated his 19th birthday by getting the game-winner early in the second shorthanded.
Giants opened the scoring on a one-time blast from Hartmann just over five minutes in.
For the Wild, Levi Benson tied the game several minutes later on an odd-man rush that gave him a clear path to the net, where he finished with a deke to the backhand.
A few minutes later, Wild defenceman Brandon Osbourne was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for kneeing Giants forward Mathis Preston, who was forced to leave the game.
Less than three minutes into the third period, Oreskovic got the Giants back in front while shorthanded, driving down the left wing and taking the puck to the net, before roofing it to make the score 2-1.
Wenatchee peppered the Giants net in the third, outshooting Vancouver 19-2, but Hood was unbeatable, helping the Giants to their second straight win.
With the win, Hood now holds an 8-3-1 record over his last 13 appearances with a .907 save percentage.
Giants are in Wenatchee for the rematch at 4 p.m. today (Sunday).
On Friday, the G-Men host Penticton at the LEC at 7 p.m.