Second Period Strikes Seal Giants Win

First Period

The first was not without its chances with Ryan Smith first being denied by Sami Aittokallio before Marcus Eriksson gifted Hugo Roy an opportunity that Jackson Whistle did well to snuff out. JJ Piccinich then had a quick shot off a face-off held before Whistle made a superb stop from Deven Sideroff with a Glasgow player screening in front of him.

Rylan Schwartz then kissed the bar with a shot as the visitors pressed for the opener but it wasn’t all one-way traffic as Jake Gaudet robbed Chris McKay but was repelled by Aittokallio one-on-one. Whistle reacted well to get a poke check in as Cade Neilson tried to tee up Richard Jurasek. Piccinich had an effort from straight in front rattle the bar but, ultimately, we went into the intermission goalless. However, Karl Boudrias would be sent to the penalty box for high sticking with less than a minute remaining and that would prove costly on the other side of the restart.

Second Period

With the Quebec defenseman still in the box, the Clan struck after less than a minute with Tristin Langan hammering home a one-timer off Brayden Burke’s layoff. (0-1). To their credit, the hosts responded well and laid siege to the Glasgow goal. Marcus Eriksson and Scott Conway came lose but both would have their time moments later. After Piccinich almost tipped Reid Irwin’s shot home, Conway was sprang loose and made no mistake to tie proceedings at one (1-1)

Schwartz was then sent to the penalty box also for high sticking and, after Mike Lee fired off a warning shot that tipped the bar and into the screen, Eriksson finished neatly as he lifted the puck into the roof of the net to give Adam Keefe’s men their first lead of the night. (2-1) Piccinich was still hunting for his goal and nearly got it after lovey build-up and good stick work but the New Jerseyan was denied by the Finn Aittokallio.

Third Period

Early in the third was defined by penalties as the Giants killed two against Gabe Bast and Kawaguchi. Their head coach will have been delighted with their penalty kill in such a tight game. An off-target McKay rasper was all the Clan could muster with their four minutes of numerical advantage. While the game was five-on-five, Whistle made perhaps the most crucial stop of the evening. The whole arena held its breath as Langan broke away looking for his second but the Giants net minder stood up strong and denied him an equaliser.

After Conway almost tipped home Sam Jones’ shot, the Clan dropped their goalie for an extra skater and the Giants took advantage to seal the game. As the puck broke loose in centre ice, captain David Godwin swept it home to secure a hard-fought win (3-1).

Up Next

It is a quick turnaround as these two meet again tomorrow (Sunday 28 September) at Braehead Arena with a 4pm face-off. The Belfast Giants return to home ice on Sunday 12 October in Challenge Cup action against the Fife Flyers. Tickets can be purchased here.