The Northwest Giants held on to first place in the B.C. major midget hockey league despite dropping their first game this season.
The Giants managed just one point in a two-game home series against the Okanagan Rockets at the Burnaby Winter Club last weekend.
The two teams played to a 2-2 tie on Saturday before the Rockets bid adieu to the Burnaby squad with an early morning 7-3 thrashing on Sunday.
New Westminster's Brandon Del Grosso salvaged a point for the Giants in the opening game, scoring the game-tying goal early in the final period. Eric Margo opened the scoring for the Giants in the first period.
Okanagan scored twice, just minutes apart in the middle frame.
The Giants' goalie, Bo Didur, kept his unbeaten 12-0-2 record intact with the draw.
On Sunday, goalie Liam Smith had a disappointing return off injury, giving up five goals before being replaced by Didur in the second period.
Todd Cole led the home team with a goal and an assist, while Del Grosso contributed a pair of assists.
Blanchard led all scorers with three goals and two assists. Brandon Wagner scored the game-winning goal for the Rockets with his league-leading 16th goal of the year.
The Giants remained in first place with a 151-2 record. The Cariboo Cougars moved to within two points of the leaders following back-to-back 70 shutouts over the South Island Royals, while Okanagan improved to 122-4.
This weekend, the Giants travel to Chase for a two-game set against the hapless Thompson Blazers.
