Lake scores four as Giants dismantle Panthers

Goals from Lake, Goodwin, Conway and Knight helped the Giants to their 8^th consecutive Premier Sports Elite League victory.

FIRST PERIOD

Belfast’s top line continued to wreak havoc in the opening minutes, scoring on both of their opening shifts. David Goodwin sucked the air out of the arena just 25 seconds in with the help of his linemates, Piccinich and Conway, before Conway himself added a second at just 2:48. (0-1, 0-2)

The Panthers were in danger of capitulating entirely at 6:07 when Cam Knight added a third past embattled goalie Kevin Carr unassisted. (0-3)

However, their first period lifeline came in the shape of a Scott Conway interference call, which Mark Matheson converted from the blue line at 10:50 (Assist: Brady Norrish). (1-3)

The visitors responded immediately, and the goal fest continued as Ben Lake poked home a loose puck from the edge of the paint off Griffin Reinhart’s shot at 11:55. (1-4)

Cam Knight sat for holding at 15:02, and despite the Giants shutting down an important Panthers power play the hosts found their second at 17:11 courtesy of a Matthew Myers tip (Assist: JC Brassard, Christophe Boivin). (2-4)

SECOND PERIOD

If the first period was defined by goals, the middle period was certainly defined by penalties as a succession of power plays, 4-on-4s and a very brief Belfast 5-on-3 unfolded in a much tighter contest.

Scott Conway’s cross-checking call at 25:41 was curtailed at 27:08 when Mathieu Tousignant sat for tripping. Cam Knight and Robbie Baillargeon took a pair of slashing calls at 28:46, cancelling each other out, but still a vital next goal for both sides did not materialise.

The Giants recognised the opportunity to add their fifth with back-to-back Panthers penalties and 9 seconds of 5 on 3 (Sean Richard, slashing, 30:53 & Matthew Lane, high sticking, 32:44), but after a time out to draw up their attack the score remained unchanged.

Tyler Soy was next to the box for cross checking at 34:42, but it was his Giants who found the net back at full strength when Lake tucked it through the 5-hole on a superb individual effort, scoring on his way to the deck at 36:54. (2-5)

THIRD PERIOD

The Panthers showed a little bit of jump as the third period got underway, working hard in the Giants zone for three grade A chances across the opening five minutes, all of which were denied by Beskorowany- with a little help from his post.

The game was out of reach at 47:42 when Lake netted his hat trick goal with a sublime pass from Tyler Soy behind the net. (2-6)

The Lake Show wasn’t finished however, as Christophe Boivin’s slashing penalty led to a fourth for Belfast’s #9- pouncing on a Scott Conway pass at the back door to seal the Giants’ 8^th straight league victory and successive 7 goal victories in Nottingham.

UP NEXT

The Belfast Giants return home this Friday 7^th January for more Premier Sports Elite League action. Tickets are ON SALE NOW.