Giants Suffer First Defeat in Glasgow

First Period

After a cagey opening five minutes, the Giants went on the power play after a bench minor penalty from the Clan. They couldn’t take advantage, though, as a Mike Lee shot was well stopped by Rasmus Tirronen in what was the visitors’ best chance. The Clan goalie made a stunning double save soon after as he denied Patrick Guay and the follow-up from Kaleb Pearson.

The Clan then had their first big chance when Juho Rautanen’s shot was held. That was a bit of foreshadowing, though, as just moments later, the Finnish defender’s shot was tipped home from in front by Rylan Schwartz on 11:47 (1-0). The Giants were almost level before the celebrations had died down, but Tirronen reacted well again to stop Pearson.

Despite this, the hosts would soon double their lead with another net-front effort. This time, it was Mick Messner who was able to force the puck home after Jake Kupsky had saved well from Keaton Pehrson on 13:15 (2-0). The visitors were under the cosh but struck back with a powerplay goal on 17:42. That came from JJ Piccinich, who continued his red-hot scoring form of late as he fizzed home with Rautanen sat down for interference (2-1). That is how it would stay going into the first intermission after Kupsky saved well from Tristin Langan late in the period.

Second Period

The hosts came out quickly to begin the second, and the Giants had Kupsky to thank for another stop from a Rautanen shot before Schwartz fizzed one wide. The Clan kept the pressure on and were rewarded with a third goal on 27:44 when Josh Tarzwell came close with a wraparound effort, but Cole Kodsi didn’t give up on the play and bundled the puck home from right in front (3-1).

Lee tried his luck from distance to try to cut the deficit, but was denied by Tirronen before the two teams exchanged penalties served by Schwartz and Scott Conway. Neither side could take advantage of the power play as Morten Jensen fired wide with the best chance during either penalty. Ross Armour and Brady Risk then tried to crash the net but were stopped by a combination of Kupsky and good Belfast defending but Mike Sirant’s men went into the second intermission with a two-goal advantage.

Third Period

The hosts were buoyed on by their home support all game, and they gave them something else to cheer about just over five minutes into the third period. That came when Messner kept a puck alive and picked out Deven Sideroff, who finished at the second time of asking after Kupsky saved his initial effort on 45:42 (4-1).

The goal-scorer was then sat down for two minutes for tripping, but the visitors couldn’t take advantage with a Conway shot that was blocked, the best they could muster, as the Clan killed the penalty. Jake Gaudet was then sent to the penalty box for a boarding call as the Giants were struggling for any momentum and a route back into the game.

Glasgow could have added a fifth late on with Tarzwell having a couple of efforts saved, with one coming off the rebound of a Steven Seigo effort, but, ultimately, they had done enough for the victory on home ice.

Up Next

The Giants travel to Dundee on Friday night to take on the Stars. That game faces off at 7:30pm before the Stars make the trip across the Irish Sea on Sunday 4 October. That game is a 5pm face-off, and you can get your tickets here.