Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Di Giuseppe keys G5 win days after birth of son

Written by 
Published in Hockey
Friday, 17 May 2024 01:36

After missing the past two games to be with his wife for the birth of their son, Phillip Di Giuseppe scored his first career playoff goal and was instrumental in the Vancouver Canucks' 3-2 win Thursday over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Di Giuseppe, who had only one playoff point in 11 games before Game 5, tied the score at 2-2 a little more than five minutes into the second period. The Oilers were in their zone when Di Giuseppe was aggressive on the forecheck and delivered a hit on Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm.

It led to the puck making its way to Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, who was behind the net. As Bouchard attempted to advance the puck up the ice, he lost possession and Di Giuseppe did a spin move at the net front to create separation to score the tying goal.

"I got in on Ekholm and [Nils Aman] came flying in on Bouchard," Di Giuseppe said of his goal. "I don't know if he coughed it up or poked it off him, I got to watch it again. ... So I spun around and scored."

Each of the five games in this series has been decided by a goal. With Game 2 being an overtime win for the Oilers, it appeared Game 5 was also set to reach an extra frame before Canucks alternate captain J.T. Miller scored the winning goal with 33 seconds left in the third.

Miller's game winner came days after Bouchard sealed a 3-2 victory for the Oilers with a winning goal with 39 seconds remaining in the third, which allowed the Oilers to tie the series.

Di Giuseppe's goal helped the Canucks come within a game of reaching their first Western Conference final since the 2011-12 season, and he did it days after his wife, Maggie, delivered the couple's second child, whom they named Sam.

"I just couldn't be happier for him and his wife, Maggie," Miller said. "Unbelievable people. He deserves it. He works his butt off. It's a been a year that Phil's worked really hard here, and their line was unbelievable tonight. For them to get rewarded at a big time of the game was really great."

Di Giuseppe, 30, was with the team before Game 3 in Edmonton but left the Canucks and returned to Vancouver for the birth of his son. Di Giuseppe told reporters Thursday morning that his wife had "a tough pregnancy" and that Maggie and Sam were set to come home.

"I might choke up again. ... It's been a battle of a nine months for her," Di Giuseppe said. "Obviously, with my job, I've been away a lot. She's been in the hospital a lot. We've had a lot of family coming in and out to support us. Like I said before, it takes a village, and it's a blessing we got one."

A fourth-line winger, Di Giuseppe worked alongside Aman and Vasily Podkolzin to power a line that was responsible for more than just the tying goal. Di Giuseppe and Podkolzin were among the forwards who forechecked during the sequence that saw Soucy score the Canucks' first tying goal with 2:33 remaining in the first period.

Di Giuseppe was also among the forwards who helped limit the Oilers' power-play unit to zero goals on five power-play opportunities. Before Game 5, the Oilers had gone four straight games with a power-play goal against the Canucks while operating at a 50% success rate, with five goals in 10 opportunities on the extra-skater advantage.

Soucy said it felt like "a safe bet" that Di Giuseppe was going to score a goal in Game 5.

"Obviously, a little energy and a little extra motivation," Soucy said. "I think everyone is just so happy for him. That's amazing. Obviously, what happens off the ice and then for him to come do that is awesome."

Read 100 times

Soccer

Investigation opens after Argentine YouTuber plays

Investigation opens after Argentine YouTuber plays

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Argentine justice department launched an investigation on Tuesd...

Rodman, Marta, Chawinga up for NWSL MVP

Rodman, Marta, Chawinga up for NWSL MVP

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsKansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga, who broke the single-se...

Priestman out as Canada coach over spy scandal

Priestman out as Canada coach over spy scandal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBev Priestman will not return as head coach of the Canadian women's...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Diamond Sports to offer per-game NBA, NHL prices

Diamond Sports to offer per-game NBA, NHL prices

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSOUTHPORT, Conn. -- The nation's largest owner of regional sports n...

Ex-NBAer Singler's cryptic IG post draws concern

Ex-NBAer Singler's cryptic IG post draws concern

EmailPrintFormer Duke star Kyle Singler's cryptic Instagram post saying he fears for his life has dr...

Baseball

Diamondbacks tab Phils' Kaplan as pitching coach

Diamondbacks tab Phils' Kaplan as pitching coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks hired Brian Kaplan on Tuesday t...

Sources: Angels, d'Arnaud reach 2-yr., $12M deal

Sources: Angels, d'Arnaud reach 2-yr., $12M deal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday continued their aggressive move-m...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated