Midweek defeat for Giants in Kirkcaldy

First Period

The first chance of the period went the way of the hosts as Michael Drabek’s cutback across the front of the net was met by Xander Lamppa who was denied by Jackson Whistle. The Giants responded with shots from JJ Piccinich and Ciaran Long with both stopped by Blake Pietila, who was making his home debut between the pipes for the Flyers.

The Giants would go on the powerplay shortly after Mike Petizian was penalised for Delay of Game but it would not go to plan as it was the hosts who took the lead short-handed. The goal went to Cole Stewart who capitalised on a loose puck in front of the Belfast net and opened the scoring at 12:52 (1-0).

The response from Adam Keefe’s men saw shots from Nicolas Guay and another from Long saved before Logan Cockerill’s deflected effort trickled agonisingly wide of the post. The Flyers then had another glaring opportunity to double their lead late in the period as captain Garet Hunt broke away but was repelled well by Whistle to keep the deficit at one heading into the first intermission.

Second Period

The Giants came out of the traps fast after the second intermission and came close with efforts from Morten Jensen and Scott Conway before Fife killed a penalty served by Hunt for cross-checking. It wasn’t long after this that Tim Wallace’s men doubled their advantage through Mika Partanen after good build up and assist from Drabek on 26:24 (2-0).

The Giants went on the powerplay again soon after when Evan Dougherty was sent to the penalty box for high sticking. It was on their third man advantage of the night that the Giants finally got on the board through Conway. He finished well from close range on 31:27 after nice work from his line mates Piccinich and David Goodwin (2-1).

With the deficit halved, Kaleb Pearson almost levelled with a breakaway effort before Jake Gaudet was binned for slashing. Whistle put his body on the line to deny Zach Power before his save from Cameron Hough sent Piccinich streaking away only to be stopped by Pietila to keep the Fife lead at one heading into the second intermission.

Third Period

The next goal in the game would be crucial and it fell the way of the hosts less than three minutes after the restart. Petizian it was who fizzed a shot past Jake Kupsky – who replaced Whistle in the second intermission – from a narrow angle after nice stick work from Partanaen and Victor Bjorkung on 42:53 (3-1).

The visitors had a real hole to climb out of at this stage and tried to get back into the game with a chance for Jordan Kawaguchi who stabbed goal bound from in front of the net while Piccinich’s shot was well saved before Gaudet tried to bat down the rebound in mid air but found his path to goal blocked.

The clock was ticking and the men from Belfast did light the lamp above Pietila’s goal on 52:01 with a first Giants goal for Jensen (3-2). The game was very much on and the visitors pushed for a leveller but, ultimately, it would not come. Gaudet and Mike Lee tried their best in the late knockings but the hosts held on for the victory.

Up Next

The Belfast Giants now head into a home-and-away double-header with the Glasgow Clan with the road game on Friday evening at 7:30pm before they return to The O2 Belfast for Halloween night on Sunday (October 25^th) for a 5pm face-off. Tickets are selling fast but you can purchase yours here.