Franson's hat trick lifts Giants past Chiefs in playoff opener

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Cain Franson recorded a hat trick as the Vancouver Giants beat the Spokane Chiefs 7-5 in Game 1 of their best-of-7 Western Conference playoff series in front of 5,816 at Pacific Coliseum on Friday night.

Vancouver (41-26-2-4) took a 3-0 lead early in the second before Blake Gal scored a short-handed goal for Spokane (38-26-5-4).

After another goal by Vancouver, Steve Kuhn scored on a power play to pull Spokane within 4-2 before the Giants added a goal on Jordan Martinook's second of the night for a 5-2 lead after two.

Jason Fram and Dominik Uher scored short-handed goals early in the third to pull Spokane within a goal, but Franson scored two goals in the final five minutes to seal the win for Vancouver.

Mac Engel had 33 saves for Spokane, which was outshot 40-24.

The series continues tonight at 7 in Vancouver.