Giants Fall Short with Overtime Loss at Fife

Although Ben Lake grabbed two goals and Daniel Tedesco struck on the powerplay, the Flyers were able to fight back twice to force the extra period and there Lajeunesse would complete his hat-trick for the winning goal.

First period

A promising start for the Giants saw Jeff Baum drive up ice from defence and pick out Travis Brown at the back post, only for Flyers netminder Shane Owen to make the low save, while at the other end Tyler Beskorowany made a couple of early stops as Jonas Emmerdahl shot from distance and then Max Humitz fired on goal from a tight angle.

But the Giants’ early pressure would be rewarded, and after several sights at goal that went begging, Lake would open the scoring at 10:58 as he was found in the left circle by Tedesco and fired into the top corner (0-1). It could have been even better shortly after when Brown was set in one-on-one with Owen but the goaltender made the save.

Another big save from Owen denied Ara Nazarian as the Giants flooded into the zone and once more the netminder shut the door as a scramble at the net threatened to beat him, and Tedesco hit the post on a powerplay as Vitalijs Pavlovs was penalised for tripping, but the gap would remain one goal at the break.

Second period

It took just 57 seconds for the Giants to double their advantage and Lake to grab his second, Tedesco feeding Josh Roach in the right circle, and he passed to the centre who tapped-in at the crease (0-2). Owen made another couple of big saves to deny Bobby MacIntyre and Mark Cooper to prevent the lead being stretched even further.

Although most of the puck possession was being held by Belfast, the Flyers were still having their moments and they nearly capitalised on a two-on-one as Collin Shirley looked to feed Humitz, but a brilliant intervention from Baum prevented them even getting the shot away, while Owen once again came up with a massive block as the puck fell for Ciaran Long in front and then Nazarian on the rebound.

But the game would be tied in the space of 30 seconds as Lajeunesse grabbed a quickfire double for the Flyers, a fortunate bounce back in front allowing him to rip the shot into the top corner at 30:39 (1-2), and the same man would race into the zone and beat Beskorowany at 31:09 for the tying goal. (2-2)

Head coach Adam Keefe called a timeout immediately after the second goal and it sparked the Giants into life, a holding penalty against Humitz putting them on the powerplay and Tedesco smashing in the one-timer from the right circle at 32:13 (2-3) and the Giants would end the period by playing out a kneeing call against Mark Cooper to maintain their lead.

Third period

Baum continued his strong game with a huge block on a shot from Kyle Osterberg that looked destined to find the back of the net shortly before the Giants were able to play out an interference penalty on Greg Printz to stay ahead, but they were struggling to generate any meaningful offense at the other end.

When they did get chances, though, they were big ones as Oliver Cooper dropped the puck to Printz and he flashed the shot wide before the Giants played out another penalty against the former for interference, but the dam would finally burst, and the Flyers got their equaliser at 55:17 as Pavlovs picked up the rebound from Emmerdahl’s shot and flicked it home. (3-3)

A late penalty against Jacob Friend, who was called for delay of game after flicking the puck straight over the boards, meant the Giants spent most of the final few minutes on the penalty kill but they were able to see it out and force overtime, although they needed an outstanding double save from Beskorowany to deny Shirley all alone in front with just four seconds left to do so.

Overtime

Another penalty, this time a tripping minor on Tedesco, gave the Flyers the powerplay midway through the extra period and the home side took advantage just 19 seconds in, Lajeunesse completing his hat-trick with a stunning one-timer at 62:42 for the winner. (4-3)

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants remain on the road as they travel to the Vindico Arena to take on the Cardiff Devils on Wednesday 27 March, before returning home to welcome the Glasgow Clan to The SSE Arena, Belfast on Saturday 30 March. Tickets are available to purchase here.