Giants Hold Nerve in Shootout Success

First Period

The game started with a bang but not the way the hosts wanted as Matthew Gleason finished a loose puck in front of the net with Alexis Gravel unsighted after just 43 seconds (0-1). Despite this early setback, the Giants responded well with chances at the other end. Marcus Eriksson and Nicolas Guay had the best of them but were thwarted by Dershahan Stewart in the Blaze goal.

However, there was nothing he could do as Jake Gaudet was teed up by Nicolas Guay and his shot took a deflection on the way through for a leveller (1-1). The Ottawa native thought he had his second in quick succession to put the hosts ahead, but a video review ruled it out for goalie interference.

The rest of the opening period was interrupted by trips to the penalty box. Coventry served six minutes in total with four going the way of Colton Saucerman for high sticking while David Goodwin also served two minutes for the same infraction. That left the scores level at the first intermission with Gravel saving well from Kim Tallberg just before the buzzer.

Second Period

Adam Keefe’s men started the second period with some good chances. Guay’s shot rippled the wrong side of the net while a Mike Lee shot hit a couple of bodies on the way through before trickling just the wrong side of the post. Former Giant Elijiah Barriga was then sent to the box for tripping and, while he was sat there, Nicolas Guay rifled a shot past Stewart. There was initial confusion as it looked as though it had come back off the crossbar. However, Guay was celebrating and video review confirmed that the puck had rebounded off the stantion in the roof of the net (2-1).

Having been forced to watch this from the penalty box, Barriga would have his moment as he seized on a loose puck, and he finished past Gravel to level the game again (2-2). Things would get even better for the visitors just before the buzzer as Gleason got his second squeezing home from a narrow angle after a Gravel save (2-3).

Third Period

The Blaze rode the crest of that wave into the third period and Adam Robbins had a pair of chances repelled by Gravel. The Quebec-born goalie then made a good save with his legs to thwart Tallberg before the Giants started to gain a foothold.

Chances were spurned by Ryan Smith and David Goodwin as the clock ticked down. The Blaze was desperately clinging on before Jordan Kawaguchi raised the roof of The SSE Arena with a stunning equaliser with just 18 seconds remaining to force overtime (3-3).

Overtime

In the extra five minutes, it was Kevin Moore’s side who were knocking on the door and Barriga almost won it on his return to Belfast as his shot squirmed through Gravel’s legs, only for Lee to clear off the line.

Guay then had a poked effort touched wide by Stewart while Patrick Grasso and Barriga exchanged chances but couldn’t find a winner and it would be a shootout to decide who took the extra point.

The Blaze failed with all of their efforts with Grasso scoring for the hosts meaning J.J. Piccinich had the chance to win it which he duly did to send the home crowd home happy after a pulsating evening (4-3).

Up Next

The Giants hit the road as they take on the Guildford Flames on Sunday. Adam Keefe’s side return to The SSE Arena for a double-header against Sunday’s hosts on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 December. Tickets are on sale now and available to purchase here.