Giants Return to The O2 Belfast in Pre-Season Curtain-Raiser

First Period

Mason Klee had the first chance of the game, but his effort was denied by Christian Elmose in the Herlev goal. The visitors’ stopper made another superb save from Jake Gaudet before Patrick Guay fired wide of the target. It was incessant early pressure from the home side and, after good work in front of the net from JJ Piccinich went unrewarded, the Giants took the lead right at the mid-point of the first. It was Gaudet who put a perfect pass on a plate for Kaleb Pearson right on the doorstep, and he made no mistake for a debut goal (1-0)

This seemed to spark the Danish outfit into life, and Jake Kupsky in the home goal was called into action for the first time soon after when Carl Skarstrom tipped Gustav Green’s shot goal-bound. Adam Keefe’s men responded with the familiar combo of David Goodwin and Scott Conway linking up to an almost goal-scoring effect.

The Eagles were troubling the home goal again towards the end of the period, with Kupsky needing to stay alert with efforts from Matthias Asperup and David Karlstrom, with the former of those producing a super save from the Wisconsin-born stopper. The hosts did finish the period in the ascendancy, though, with Elmose repelling a Mike Lee one-timer, and the Guay brothers, Patrick and Nicolas, almost forcing a puck home in front.

Second Period

The Giants wasted no time in doubling their lead in the second period, and it came through captain David Goodwin, who snaffled up the rebound after Elmose had parried Christian Berger’s shot into his path (2-0). However, that extended advantage did not last long as the Eagles halved the deficit through Karlstrom’s shot from straight in front. (2-1)

The home lead was wiped out completely after a second goal in quick succession for Johan Akerman’s men, with this one coming from Joseph Jonsson after a nice assist from Asperup. (2-2) The reigning Elite League champions responded well to that setback with Nicolas Guay’s effort saved by the mask of Elmose before they rode out a penalty served by Mack Stewart for slashing, with Cole Shudra actually having the best chance during those two minutes.

Marius Kring-Andersen was then sent to the penalty box for Herlev, and the hosts bombarded the net with efforts from Lee and Piccinich fizzing wide while Goodwin and Ciaran Long forced saves, but ultimately, we headed into the third period level pegging.

Third Period

Much like the second period, the Giants got off to a quick start, and it was captain Goodwin again. This time, he pounced on a loose pass from a Herlev defender and was clinical in his finish past Elmose (3-2). Kring-Andersen responded with a shot through bodies that was held by Kupsky while Gaudet and Morten Jensen tried their luck at the other end.

Another debutant, Logan Cockerill, showed nice stick control but couldn’t add a finish before the hosts killed a penalty served by Patrick Guay for slashing. Asperup had a shot that was saved by Kupsky as the clock ticked down, only for the visitors to take advantage of a late penalty served by Jaeden Martin. It was Sebastian Holm-Pedersen who put the finishing touches on an equalising goal with just over a minute left on the clock to send the game to OT. (3-3)

Overtime

The Eagles rode that momentum into the extra five minutes and scored a winner through Asperup (3-4), but a shootout was played regardless in a training exercise for both teams. The Giants scored two through Pearson and Patrick Guay, while the visitors only managed one goal, with Jonsson rattling the post with his last effort.

Up Next

These two will meet again on Sunday afternoon back at The O2 Belfast as the Giants’ pre-season preparations continue. That game is a 4PM start, and you can purchase tickets here.