KARLSSON'S BIG NIGHT FOR FIFE SEES OFF GIANTS

First Period

Much like the reverse fixture in Belfast two days ago, the first period was very even and end-to-end. The visitors had the first of the chances with Scott Conway and Ryan Smith testing Cristian Purboo. The Giants then fell foul of the officials with both Conway and Marcus Eriksson sitting together for almost 90 seconds but the 5-on-3 was killed despite efforts from Justin Ducharme and Simon Despres.

Jordan Kawaguchi and Nicolas Guay tested Purboo to no avail while Josh Winquist was repelled by Alexis Gravel before Karlsson rattled the post. That was a bit of foreboding for the Giants as Milan Lucic sent David Booth streaking away to finish well past Gravel (1-0) Lucic himself had a good chance but he slid wide, as did Guay just before the end of the period as the hosts went in ahead at the first intermission.

Second Period

Early in the second, the Flyers killed a penalty served by Ducharme although that wouldn’t be the last time the door to the home penalty box would be opened in the second. Despres and Johan Porsberger had chances to extend their side’s lead while Bo Hanson and Ben Lake tried to level proceedings.

Karlsson was repelled by Gravel before he and captain Garet Hunt were sat down on overlapping penalties that would, ultimately, cost their side. Guay was teed up at the back stick and the Quebec-born forward rifled home the leveller. (1-1)

That goal came 12:57 into the second period and was followed just 42 seconds later by Jordan Kawaguchi who also took advantage of a powerplay with Booth penalised for tripping (1-2). This quick-fire double was added to less than two minutes later by Ciaran Long who finished well on the back hand from Lake’s pass with the two side’s at even strength this time. (1-3)

To their credit, the home side did not wilt after this onslaught and brought the deficit back to one at the second intermission. They did so via a well-worked team effort started by Ryan Nicholson and finished by Josh Winquist via a Karlsson pass. (2-3)

Third Period

Gravel made an excellent stop early in the third to deny Karlsson but the Swedish forward would not stop there. Adam Keefe’s men had chances of their own to extend the lead in the third with Purboo reacting well to stop Eriksson’s tip on Smith’s shot. The Ontario-born goalie then made a superb double save to repel Guay and Kawaguchi as he kept his side in proceedings.

His opposite number Gravel then made good stops from Winquist and Ethan Somoza but the pressure was building as the home crowd urged their team on for an equaliser. Gravel would soon be penalised for displacing the goal net with that penalty served by captain David Goodwin and the Flyers seized their moment.

Karlsson was teed up by Porsberger and he beat Gravel with a nice finish to tie things up (3-3). The two teams tried their best to seal things in regulation but neither could do so leading to five minutes of overtime.

Overtime

That extra five minutes could not separate the teams either despite some high-end chances. Most notably for the home side was one for Booth while Lee was denied by another excellent Purboo save. A shootout was required to confirm the destination of the extra point and, after Ducharme and Lake scored at either end, it was Karlsson who rounded off his big night with the winning shot to seal the game (4-3)

Up Next

The Giants have two more games left in 2025 with a home-road double-header with the Glasgow Clan to come. First, the last home game this year is at The SSE Arena on Tuesday (30^th December). Puck drop is at 4pm and that game is sold out! Adam Keefe’s men then travel to Glasgow on New Year’s Eve for a 2pm start.