Giants Complete Hell of a Weekend with Win at Devils

Another stellar performance from netminder Tyler Beskorowany, who made 41 saves, backstopped them to the victory as Sean Norris, Daniel Tedesco, Charlie Curti and Quinn Preston all found the net to give the Giants back-to-back wins after defeating the Guildford Flames on Saturday.

First period

Beskorowany had to make a couple of good early saves to keep the Devils at bay but the opening goal came for the visitors just 2:48 into the game as Curti threw the puck to the net, Ben Bowns managed to keep it out initially but Norris was following in for the rebound to put the Giants ahead. (0-1)

Belfast followed it up with a strong opening penalty kill as Curti sat for roughing and then Beskorowany produced the best save of the period as he managed to thrust out a pad to deny Tyler Busch, who was sent in one-on-one on the netminder but couldn’t beat him.

Both sides had chances to strike before the intermission as Mark Cooper had an effort from the right circle blockered away by Bowns, with Justin Crandall denied by a solid pad save by Beskorowany, with the Giants ending the period on the penalty kill as Greg Printz was issued a tripping minor.

Second period

The lead would last just 41 seconds into the second period, however, as the Devils took advantage of Printz’s holdover penalty and Marcus Crawford struck on the powerplay, ripping a hard shot through traffic in front and all the way through for the equaliser. (1-1)

The Giants would play out another penalty shortly after, this time a holding call against Oliver Cooper, and Printz will wonder how he didn’t score when he was set up in front but somehow shot wide, but it wasn’t to matter as Tedesco restored the visitors’ lead at 26:21 on the powerplay - Cody Donaghey penalised for hooking - as Preston fired a bullet pass to the back post that the winger converted. (1-2)

Norris came close to a second of the night as he shot straight from a face-off and hit the frame of the goal before Beskorowany made an incredible save to block a Crandall shot over the bar and into the netting behind the Belfast goal.

But just as soon as the Giants had extended their lead to two at 31:58, a sustained period of pressure in the offensive zone leading to Curti stepping in from the point and ripping one high over the glove side of Bowns (1-3). The Devils reduced that advantage to one at 34:09 as Riley Brandt fired wide of the goal but the puck was recycled by the hosts and the same man picked up the rebound off Joey Martin’s effort and tapped in. (2-3)

Third period

Jeff Baum took a late slashing penalty in the second period, the majority of which the Giants did well to kill off at the start of the final frame, and Beskorowany had to flash the leather to make another excellent stop to deny a wicked one-timer from Brandt.

The Giants goaltender was at his acrobatic best to deny Trevor Cox shortly after, the Devils winger batting Donaghey’s rebound out of the air and Beskorowany gloving it down before Martin managed to direct it into the net, but the door was opened for Cardiff when Printz was ejected from the game for a boarding call on Chad Pietroniro, putting the hosts on a lengthy powerplay.

Two minutes of their man advantage was negated as Josh Batch was also sent to the box for roughing in the aftermath, but the Giants did an outstanding job to shut the door on the extended penalty kill, with Beskorowany coming up trumps once again by padding away an excellent chance for Cole Sanford on the one-timer.

And Preston would make the result safe with 18 seconds remaining with a creative bit of thinking, the centre shooting straight from a face-off in neutral ice and with Bowns pulled for the extra Devils skater it went all the way into the empty net for the clinching goal. (2-4)

Next up, The Stena Line Belfast Giants return to Champions Hockey League action against HC Salzburg at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Tuesday 10 October. Tickets are available here.