Giants Come up Short Against European Champions in Second Game of Finnish Double-Header

Only a day after a hard-fought game against Lukko, which Adam Keefe’s side lost 3-1, the Giants were subjected to back-to-back defeats on their mini-tour of Finland as Christian Heljanko shut them out in Tampere, leaving the Elite League champions still searching for their first points in the competition this season.

First period

Like a night prior in Rauma, the Giants were the team that started the stronger and Ara Nazarian fired just wide after a nice drop pass from Greg Printz before both sides played out early penalties as Charlie Curti’s tripping penalty was off-set by Veli-Matti Savinainen’s slashing minor just a few seconds into the Tappara powerplay.

But when the Giants got another powerplay, this time for Nick Baptiste’s holding call, it was the hosts who got on the board. Otto Somppi was the man who managed to effect the turnover in neutral ice to send Petteri Puhakka in on Beskorowany and he applied an acute shortside finish to open the scoring at 12:27. (1-0)

Under the new CHL rules, that ended Belfast’s powerplay and the Finns were the team most likely to add to their tally before the first intermission as Oiva Keskinen spun and fired just wide on the doorstep and Savinainen was denied one-on-one by Beskorowany but the difference remained one at the break.

Second period

However, it wouldn’t take long for Tappara to double their advantage early in the middle frame as Curti sat again for tripping and this time the hosts would score on the powerplay as Nick Halloran struck at 21:43, the American forward chipping the puck into the net after a scramble at the crease. (2-0)

Even when the Giants were the team with the extra man, Tappara caught with too many men on the ice, it was still their hosts who threatened as Puhakka got another breakaway but this time he was denied by Beskorowany, but their third would come even strength as Joni Tuulola’s shot from the point went all the way through traffic and in at 29:25. (3-0)

It was a period that would be dominated by the Finns as the tired Giants battled hard, and Kohei Sato tested Heljanko with a sharp angle shot but couldn’t find a way past, while Elijiah Barriga was denied with a late one-on-one chance by the netminder, who blocked his low shot.

By that stage the difference was already four as Tappara once again flexed their dominant powerplay, the Giants holding out on a Curti slashing penalty but finally buckling when Barriga was boxed for hooking and Carter Camper unleashed a brilliant shot into the top corner at 36:05. (4-0)

Third period

Belfast managed to kill off an early high sticking penalty against Daniel Tedesco, but once again the deadly Tappara powerplay would strike in the third period as Jeff Baum was sent to the box for a trip and Halloran grabbed his second of the game with a wicked one-timer from the left circle at 46:21. (5-0)

Beskorowany had to make another impressive save to deny Keskinen another big chance in the slot but he could do nothing to deny the Finnish side another powerplay goal when the visitors were caught with too many men on the ice, Baptiste the man to snap in the one-timer from the right circle at 50:05. (6-0)

The Giants did have one late chance to get a late goal back on a powerplay of their own as Puhakka was sent to the box for a hook, but Heljanko produced an outstanding glove save to deny Quinn Preston what looked like a certain goal to round off an impressive shut-out.

The men in teal are back on home ice at The SSE Arena, Belfast, Saturday 9^th September, as they face Italian side HC Bolzano in their first CHL home clash. Tickets are on sale HERE!