Posted on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 1:01 am
Giants were forced to relinquish their hold on the Challenge Cup as Devils scraped through to the final with a one-goal aggregate advantage, after withstanding a late show by the home side that almost saw the game go to overtime.
Going in with a 5-2 advantage, Devils still held that three-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining but two Colin Shields powerplay goals left the Welsh side sweating and very relieved at the final buzzer.
Devils had got off to the perfect start when Matt Miller (18th) fired them ahead after only 2.02 but the home side hit back and tied the period score with a counter by Brandon Benedict (18th) at 10.56.
Giants then made it more interesting by hitting two goals in the middle session through Craig Peacock (18th) at 27.46 and Evan Cheverie (18th) at 33.10 on the powerplay to lead 3-1 but a powerplay effort by Max Birbraer (19th) for Devils at 36.02 kept the visitors seemingly well in charge after two periods.
When Birbraer (20th) scored his second of the game at 40.32 shorthanded it seemed like a hammer blow to Giants but then came that grandstand finish as Devils were penalised several times, allowing Shields (30th & 31st) to score powerplay goals at 55.32 and 58.11 to bring Giants to within a single goal but even after pulling goaltender Stephen Murphy the home side could not force the extra goal to take the game to overtime and it is Devils who now await either Nottingham or Sheffield in the Challenge Cup final.
Period Scores: 1-1, 2-1, 2-1
Penalty Mins: Bel 8 – Car 20
Powerplay: Bel 3/10 – Car 1/4
Shots On: Stephen Murphy 25 – Stevie Lyle 43
Referee: Tom Darnell
© 2008 Belfast Giants Limited, unless otherwise stated. Imagery © Michael Cooper Photography.
