Giants Wrap 2022 with Seven Goal Win in Fife

FIRST PERIOD

Solid spells of puck possession saw the Giants jump to an early two goal lead. Firstly, Sam Ruopp crossed the blue line and found himself with breathing room in the Flyers’ zone at 8:17, ripping a wrist shot past former Giant Shane Owen to open the scoring. (0-1)

Just over two minutes later, Ruopp’s pass from the left set up Gabe Bast from the right circle to double the visitors' lead at 10:49. (0-2)

Seth Bafaro picked an opportune moment to score his first goal as a Flyer, pulling one back at 14:24 with a laser from the top of the left circle. (1-2)

Belfast spent much of the remainder of the period on the kill, as Ruopp sat for interference at 15:01, followed by Bast for slashing at 18:51.

SECOND PERIOD

Fife saw improved possession throughout the opening half of the second period and began putting together elements of an offensive charge.

However, after several shots on goal were blown wide of Giants keeper Jackson Whistle, the Flyers were made to pay for their lack of clinical edge in the zone as Belfast ran riot from the half hour mark.

Mark Cooper’s puck from the left was met by Ben Lake, who went 5-hole on Owen at 31:26 in a goal which could have been considered ‘against the run of play’ at the time. (1-3)

However, after the restart it was clear that the run of play had changed, as Scott Conway followed up unassisted at 35:28, followed by a rocket from the right of the zone courtesy of Matt Foley at 37:42. (1-4, 1-5)

Despite the Flyers' attempts to stem the flow at the back, an utterly red-hot Conway struck again in-close just 11 seconds from the interval. (1-6)

THIRD PERIOD

Ben Lake’s cross-checking call at 40:58 was little trouble to the Giants' kill unit as the final period of the calendar year got underway.

Flyers goalie Shane Owen was left stranded by his defencemen just over 10 minutes from time, facing a barrage of shots and turning away two in superb fashion before Lewis Hook struck unassisted at 49:05. (1-7)

There was a consolation marker for Fife at 55:08 when Janne Kivilahti beat Whistle on the power play, as Gabe Bast sat for interference. (2-7)

The Giants' first power play of the game arrived with just over four minutes remaining as Jonas Emmerdahl was called for interference at 55:45, but it was surplus to requirements as Adam Keefe’s side ran the clock and cruised to a dominant victory on the road.

UP NEXT

The Stena Line Belfast Giants return home to The SSE Arena, Belfast on Wednesday 4^th January at 7:00pm for the Viaplay Challenge Cup Quarter Final, second leg against the Nottingham Panthers. Tickets are on sale HERE!