Giants Blank Blaze For Four Point Weekend

Despite a goalless first period, the deadlock was broken by Tyler Soy at the half hour mark, with a second from JJ Piccinich and an empty net goal from Ben Lake in the dying seconds.

FIRST PERIOD

The Belfast Giants picked up right where they left off last night, playing crisp tape to tape hockey with embattled Blaze goalie CJ Motte facing wave after wave of offence - helped in no small part by a Nathanael Halbert cross checking penalty just 21 seconds in.

The Coventry Blaze had set themselves up defensively in response to last night’s defeat, keeping their own blue line populated in the hope of hitting the Giants on the counter.

JJ Piccinich was called for holding at 13:41, and Belfast were a marginal offside away from the breakaway and a chance at their third short-handed goal of the weekend.

The Blaze struggled to stay out of the box in the closing stages of the period as David Clements was sent to the box for holding at 16:30 and Janne Laakkonen was called for hooking at 19:18, snagging David Goodwin’s shorts as the Giants Captain was through on goal.

SECOND PERIOD

Coventry came close to breaking the deadlock at 28:37 with Scott Conway in the box for slashing, ringing Tyler Beskorowany’s crossbar as the Giants goalie sprawled.

The opening goal of the game did come on the power play, but it was at the opposite end. With Nathanael Halbert sitting for hooking, Sam Ruopp wristed a shot from the right circle which Motte parried. Tyler Soy, who had been screening the goalie at the edge of the crease, pounced at 32:20. (1-0)

Soy almost made it two on the breakaway as Dane Gibson sat for tripping at 32:43, but Motte made the save.

Mark Cooper was called for interference at 36:01, but the Giants kill unit continued a solid run of form.

THIRD PERIOD

The Belfast penalty kill went four for four at 42:46 when Mark Cooper was sent for hooking, and the home side’s breathing room came at 47:28 when JJ Piccinich fired home glove side on Motte from a Scott Conway pass. (2-0)

Blaze head coach Danny Stewart called his goaltender to the bench with just over three minutes remaining, and Adam Keefe responded with a time out.

Coventry poured forward, pressing hard for a goal, but it was Ben Lake who killed the game off into the empty net at 58:21 after Mark Cooper’s pass out of the zone. (3-0)

There was just enough time for Kevin Raine to take a 5 minute penalty for checking from behind at 59:08, causing a scrum in front of the travelling Blaze fans. However, Coventry’s power play opportunity was nullified as Johnny Curran sat for delay of game at 59:09 and the Belfast Giants wrapped up an all-important four point weekend.

UP NEXT

The Belfast Giants continue their home stand next weekend as the Cardiff Devils make the trip to the SSE Arena for a highly anticipated double header weekend. Tickets for Friday 4^th February and Saturday 5^th February (both 7:00pm) are ON SALE HERE.