Giants shut out Clan on Hawaiian night in Belfast

First Period

The first period was a slow burner with Ryan Smith’s rasper wide on five minutes the first real effort on goal. Scott Conway was next to try his luck after good stick work but both he and JJ Piccinich shortly after were repelled by Sami Aittokallio in the Glasgow goal.

The Finish stopper was breathing a sigh of relief shortly after when David Goodwin’s effort squeezed under his body but the puck was scrambled away. The Clan could not capitalise on a powerplay after Ben Lake was binned for tripping and the hosts would have the next chances of the opening period through Smith and Jake Gaudet.

Neither of these opportunities could be taken and Jackson Whistle also made the save when Brayden Burke put the puck on the stick of Hugo Roy. The period ended with a boarding call on David Jarusek as we went into the first intermission scoreless.

Second Period

JJ Piccinich came a post’s width away from opening the scoring early in the second before the Clan had their best two chances of the game in quick succession. First Whistle denied Burke before the Giants number one stood tall to repel Brett Neumann on the breakaway.

Those saves would prove to be crucial as the hosts broke the game open with two goals in less than a minute. The first of those came with Ryan McKay in the penalty box for holding the stick and Piccinich made them pay with a rifled effort from the right hash marks (1-0)

The second came from Smith who gave Aittokallio a different look from the other side of the goal as he unleashed a rocket to double the Giants lead in the blink of an eye. (2-0). Despite having Lake binned again, Adam Keefe’s men had two breakaway chances short-handed that were well stopped. The first came from Piccinich with Reid Irwin also trying his luck.

Darien Kielb did hit the post with a man advantage but the penalty was killed and the Giants had the last chance of the period as the puck just wouldn’t sit for Brandon Whistle after Aittokallio saved from Smith.

Third Period

As they did for much of the night, the Clan had some bright spells at the beginning of the third and also killed a penalty given against Austin Mitchell-King. Tristin Langan had a wraparound attempt foiled by the post before Whistle had to be alert again to deny Miikhali Teppo and Rylan Schwartz.

The hosts were doing well to control proceedings despite these chances and, despite having Reid Irwin sent to the penalty box, Smith iced the game with just seconds remaining with an empty net goal. (3-0).

Up next

The Belfast Giants are back in Elite League action this evening as they travel to Guildford to take on the Flames. Puck drop there is 6pm. They will be back home again on Wednesday (29th October) to welcome the Cardiff Devils to The SSE Arena for a 7pm start. You can grab tickets for that one here.