Vancouver Giants might have dropped the first in a series of seven playoff games Friday night on home ice, but their coach had little to criticize in how the 91原创-based WHL hockey team played.

"They played well, and so did we," Manny Viveiros, the Giants head coach, said right after Game 1 in round one of the 2025 Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs.

The G-Men are up against the Spokane Chiefs in this playoff series, and the 4-1 defeat in Game 1 was credited to luck, positioning, and speed.

"I thought we did a really good job," Viveiros said. 

"We had some really good looks. Some Grade-A chances and we just didn't finish. That's the way it is. Spokane is a heck of a team, but I liked the way we played. I liked the way we stuck with it," he added.

Besides working a little to improve the team's speed through the neutral zone, "I've got no qualms with the way our kids played tonight," the coach concluded.

Vancouver scored first, but Spokane scored two in the second and two in the third, including an empty-netter with 1:45 remaining, to take the first game of the series.

Jaden Lipinski had the lone goal for the G-Men, while netminder Burke Hood was reliable "as always," said Viveiros, noting he made 40 saves on 43 shots in his first career post-season game. He earned the second star of the night, despite the loss.

The first two games of the series are being hosted in 91原创. Next up is Game 2 at 91原创 Events Centre on Sunday, March 30, with the puck dropping at 4 p.m.

Followed by that game, the next three games are south of the border, in Spokane, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings, April 2, 3, and 5. Since it's the best of seven, Games 5 and on are still tentative. 

If a sixth game is required, the Chiefs will be back in 91原创 on Monday, April 7. And then, again if needed, Game 7 will be hosted in Spokane on Wednesday, April 9.