Giants 'Gow One Step Closer to Knockouts with Win at Clan

Adam Keefe’s men stormed Braehead Arena thanks to a 19-save performance from netminder Tyler Beskorowany, with two goals from captain Mark Cooper and further strikes from Travis Brown and Ben Lake ensuring the two points would stay with the visitors, taking them four clear at the top of the group.

First period

The Giants had a quick chance to strike on the powerplay as Bryce Reddick and Jake Bolton were both penalised for hooking at the same time, however the best chance went to Glasgow’s Robert Lachowicz on a shorthanded breakaway, but Beskorowany shut the door to deny him.

But on the Giants’ second powerplay, this time with Mike Pelech off for slashing, the visitors pulled ahead as Miles Gendron’s pass into the left circle found Mark Cooper wound up for the slapshot and he slammed the puck into the net for the lead at 5:38. (0-1)

Beskorowany had to make another save shortly after to preserve the Giants’ lead when Ryan Harrison was set up in front on the breakaway, and he was rewarded by Brown, who was picked out in the left circle by Greg Printz and slotted home through the five-hole of Jake Kielly for the shorthanded goal at 9:31 (0-2) with Jacob Friend off for cross-checking.

Belfast were able to survive another penalty against Printz, this one for interference, with Beskorowany denying Alex Forbes after a giveaway in the defensive zone, while at the other end Mark Cooper nearly doubled his tally when he shot short side on Kielly but the video review determined the puck had not crossed the line.

Second period

It would take Belfast just 4:30 into the second period to add their third goal and it was another on the powerplay as Dyson Stevenson was called for roughing and some lovely tic-tac-toe hockey from Daniel Tedesco and Mark Cooper set up Lake for the tap-in at the back post. (0-3)

On the other side of the special teams battle, the penalty kill was also thriving as the Giants killed off two back-to-back penalties against Mason Alderson (roughing) and Printz (tripping), although Beskorowany had to make a big stop to deny X on the breakaway and then Nate Kallen hit the post when set one-on-one with the goaltender.

However, the number of penalties finally took their toll and after Sean Norris was denied what seemed to be a tap-in by the desperate diving stop of Kielly, the Clan would get on the board at 33:40 when Oliver Cooper was penalised for high-sticking and Pelech got the redirect on Philippe Sanche’s shot to get the hosts’ first. (1-3)

And the home side would make it a one-goal game at the intermission as once again the Giants were denied at one end, Lake turning the puck over in the offensive zone and setting up Mark Cooper for the shot that was denied by Kielly, and at the other Ryan Harrison was the beneficiary of a shot off the boards landing right on his stick and he was able to tap in with Beskorowany completely unsighted at 38:07. (2-3)

Third period

An early Clan powerplay as Ara Nazarian sat for hooking was played out by the Giants and the visitors were always comfortable in a third period where Glasgow had few looks in their bid to try and level proceedings.

Instead, Cooper would settle things with a fine second goal involving line-mates Tedesco and Lake, the pair combining to cross the blue line and then set the puck back into the slot for the captain to rip a fine wrist shot past Kielly at 50:52 and lock up the two points. (2-4)

A couple of late penalties against Charlie Curti for holding and Nazarian for slashing gave Glasgow a couple of powerplay opportunities to make it interesting late on, and they pulled Kielly for the extra skater to try and force the issue, but Keefe’s men shut the door to keep their hosts at bay and complete the win.

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants remain on the road, with fixtures against the Fife Flyers, Guildford Flames and Cardiff Devils before returning to Champions Hockey League action against EC Salzburg at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Tuesday 10 October. Tickets are available here.

Next Up

The Stena Line Belfast Giants travel to across Scotland to face the Fife Flyers on the road on Saturday 30 September. The men in teal return to home ice at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Saturday 10 October to resume their Champions Hockey League campaign versus Red Bull Salzburg. Tickets are available here.

Photography by Al Goold.