Giants Complete Four-Point Weekend Against Blaze

Defenceman Will Cullen netted twice in the victory, with Blake Speers, Bobby MacIntyre and Ben Lake also on the scoresheet as Adam Keefe’s men made it three wins in a row on home ice.

FIRST PERIOD

As was the case on Friday, the Blaze were the first to strike just 2:31 in when Danny Kristo threw the puck back in front for Kobe Roth to fire home (0-1), and the Giants missed an early chance to reply quickly as Tyler Kirkup was penalised for closing his hand on the puck but they couldn’t connect on the powerplay.

The leveller would come at 7:36 though, Cullen grabbing his first of the night when he intercepted a pass in neutral ice, skated in on Nolan Kent and scored on the backhand (1-1), although the Blaze’s response was almost immediate as Cameron Pound’s interference call allowed Kristo to find the top corner over the shoulder of Tyler Beskorowany at 9:43. (1-2)

Another powerplay chance passed the Giants up as Aidan Spellacy’s tripping minor went unpunished, but they would be level at the intermission as Cullen picked up his second at 19:19 as he smashed in the one-timer off David Goodwin’s feed to the left circle. (2-2)

SECOND PERIOD

Kent did superbly to see off two efforts from MacIntyre early in the second before Speers scored the goal of the game, going top shelf from the tightest of angles at 21:34 (3-2), only for Kohei Sato’s tripping penalty giving Coventry the chance to tie it up again at 25:58 as Ian McNulty tapped in Kristo’s centring feed for the powerplay goal. (3-3)

That prompted Keefe to make a change in nets, bringing in Jackson Whistle, and the Giants would finish the period strongly, applying plenty of pressure on a Kirkup tripping penalty before Kent made a brilliant stop to deny a MacIntyre redirect on Ara Nazarian’s initial shot.

MacIntyre wouldn’t have to wait much longer for his goal and he gave the Giants the lead at the second intermission, seizing on a giveaway in front of the Blaze net to finish five-hole at 36:01 for what would prove to be the game-winner. (4-3)

THIRD PERIOD

Were it not for Kent then the Giants would have been out of sight long before the end as he produced a masterful triple save to deny Sato, and then he was there to make another fantastic sprawling stop on the Japanese centre as the home side tried to put daylight between the sides, although they were apparently stifled when Travis Brown took a slashing call.

However, rather than putting the Giants on the back foot, it was on the penalty kill that they found the clinching goal as Oliver Cooper set Lake on the breakaway and, despite the interest of two defencemen, the centreman was able to finish on the backhand at 47:40 to effectively seal the victory. (5-3)

The Giants still had to be resolute to play out 1:20 of 5-on-3 time as Josh Roach also took a seat for roughing, but they did so superbly and finished the game in similar fashion, killing off a 6-on-4 as the Blaze pulled Kent for the extra skater as the Giants took a too many men minor, but there was no way through for the visitors as Keefe’s men closed out the four-point weekend in style.

NEXT UP

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants will be gearing up for a massive away double-header with the Elite League leading Sheffield Steelers on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March, with a home double-header with the Guildford Flames to follow on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March.

Tickets are available here.