Giants fall to Devils in Welsh capital

First Period

The first chance of the game fell to the hosts as Bayley Harewood’s shot was stopped by Jackson Whistle. The Giants responded well with a shot from Mike Lee that was stopped by Christian Stoever and, despite a scramble in front of the net, the hosts cleared the puck. They then hit the Giants on the break for the opening goal on 04:08. It was a shot from Brandon Estes that was tipped in front by Jimmy Oligny and, despite a good stop from Whistle, Josh MacDonald clinically finished the rebound. (1-0).

The hosts almost struck while the iron was hot and only an alert Whistle prevented Joey Martin from doubling the lead. The visitors regained a foothold in the game and Nicolas Guay came close before they did get the equaliser on 07:35. It was Jake Gaudet who got his second of the weekend as he was able to control the puck well after Kaleb Pearson’s shot was blocked in front (1-1).

The game settled through the mid-point of the period before the Giants went on the powerplay when Ryan Barrow was penalised for tripping. The visitors would take full advantage of this on 14:26 when captain David Goodwin was in the right place to capitalise when Lee’s shot was stopped by Stoever and he bundled the puck over the line (1-2). The Giants would kill a penalty of their own served by Mason Klee late in the period and took a lead into the first intermission.

Second Period

The Giants came out of the traps quickly in the second as they looked to build on their lead. Gaudet almost got on the scoresheet again but Stoever made a fine save from close range before Scott Conway fizzed a shot over the bar. The Devils responded with a pair of long-range shots in quick succession from Oligny but Whistle was equal to both of them.

Ben Davies then tried his luck from in front to no avail before Morten Jensen was sent to the penalty box for high sticking. While the Danish defender took a seat, the hosts took advantage as Riley Brandt levelled proceedings with a sweetly-struck shot on 31:18 (2-2).

After this, the game was a see-saw affair with big chances and even bigger saves from both goalies. Whistle made a stunning save from MacDonald and later from Kristoff Kontos while Stoever denied Goodwin and Patrick Guay as the game entered the second intermission finely balanced.

Third Period

The opening throes of the third period were a tense and tight affair until the hosts took the lead for the first time in the game on 44:38. It was Barrow who was in front of the net and finished well from Jonas Emmerdahl’s pass (3-2).

Adam Keefe’s men tried to respond only for Stoever to repel efforts from Goodwin and Pearson as the home goalie stood tall. Cardiff then put a bit of breathing space between the two sides on 51:01 when MacDonald got his second of the game when he was sprang clear by Martin and he stayed composed to beat Whistle (4-2).

The Giants were on the back foot and, after JJ Piccinich was denied and, with the clock ticking down, Whistle was sacrificed for the extra skater. Paul Thompson’s men took full advantage of this as Brandt matched MacDonald with his second into the empty net with less than a minute left to put the icing on the cake. (5-2)

Up Next

The Giants return to home ice and Challenge Cup action on Saturday (17^th October) as the Glasgow Clan come to The O2 Belfast. That game is a 7pm start and you can get tickets here.