Giants Complete Scottish Double With Shootout Win in Glasgow

A double from the in-form Jordan Kawaguchi and Garrett McFadden’s first league goal of the season earned the Giants a point before JJ Piccinich and Patrick Grasso struck in the shootout, with netminder Jackson Whistle turning away four of the five shots he faced, to get the win.

First period

A back and forth early few exchanges saw both sides have chances, Richard Jarusek just miss the net with a shot, while a quick rush up the ice led to Mike Lee just shooting over the cage from the slot, although Jackson Whistle came up with the best of the early saves to steer a Darien Kielb slapshot wide and then gloved down a shot from Hugo Roy in the slot.

Nicolas Guay was the next to come close to breaking the deadlock as he cut in from the half-boards and shot over on the backhand, however it would be the Clan who would open the scoring at 17:27 as an excellent stretch pass from Colton Poolman sent Rylan Schwartz in on goal and he made no mistake with the finish (1-0).

The Giants would be level at the first intermission, however, as Kawaguchi continued his incredible form, the winger tipping in McFadden’s shot from the point at 18:40 to make it a tie game at the break (1-1).

Second period

Belfast burst out of the blocks faster in the middle frame and Lucas Brine made an excellent save to deny Patrick Grasso in a scramble at the doorstep, but their quick start would be rewarded at 24:54 as Kawaguchi grabbed his second, deflecting a pass to the crease in, the puck just trickling over the line (1-2).

The game would grind to a 40-minute halt, however, as an issue with the plexiglass forced the players back to the locker room, but the Clan would be the ones to benefit from the break as they tied the game after play resumed at 30:32 when Kielb found the top corner via the shoulder of Whistle, his shot too strong from the left circle (2-2).

Belfast would be ahead again at 32:57, though, this time McFadden picking the top corner from the slot after the puck fell kindly for him (2-3), with Whistle ensuring the visitors would lead at the intermission as he pulled off a big stop on Brayden Burke on a late Clan powerplay at Scott Conway sat for tripping.

Third period

Neither side could find any openings early in the period but when a chance did present itself to Jake Gaudet, Brine flashed the leather to make an astounding glove stop to deny the centre in the slot, and Poolman would reward his netminder with the equaliser at 53:32, ringing one in from the right circle (3-3).

Despite the Giants flooding the zone and putting plenty of pressure on Brine’s net, particularly as the clock ticked down, they couldn’t find the goal to win it in regulation as the Scottish goaltender stood strong.

Overtime

Whistle needed to be strong to make a couple of early stops on Kielb and Deven Sideroff, while Brine did likewise to deny Grasso as he went to the crease, and it would be the Clan netminder who would make the biggest stop in the extra period as Gabe Bast got free in the slot off a turnover but Brine made the stop.

Shootout

But it would be the Giants’ night. JJ Piccinich and Patrick Grasso netted the visitors’ first two shots in the shootout and, although Sideroff responded with Glasgow’s fourth, Whistle would deny Tristin Langan with the final effort to give the Giants the extra point (3-4).