Gr-eight Night in Belfast as Giants get First Home Win

First Period

The hosts came out of the traps quickly as they looked for a second win inside a week against tonight’s visitors. It was the D-men who were getting the early shots in on Shane Owen with Mike Lee and Bo Hanson troubling the Fife net-minder. Marcus Eriksson and Patrick Grasso also came close while Andrew McLean ripped a shot just wide at the other end.

However, good work behind the net from Gabe Bast and Jordan Kawaguchi teed up Grasso for the opening goal at 05:58 (1-0). Nicolas Guay was buzzing around the front of the net looking for a goal of his own, but that second came when Johan Porsberger was sent to the penalty box for slashing midway through the period. While he was sat down, Lee let rip from almost at the blue line and his shot travelled all the way through the bodies and into the net (2-0).

The Flyers did manage to kill a penalty called on Didrik Svendsen for interference, and Josh Winquist forced a good save from Jackson Whistle just before the end of the period. However, it was a two-goal lead after 20 minutes for Adam Keefe’s men.

Second Period

The Flyers came out after the restart with renewed intensity and Whistle had to be at his best to deny Porsberger on the wraparound before making a diving football goalkeeper-style save to thwart Mason Alderson. However, things would capitulate for the visitors soon after. JJ Piccinich’s goal from a narrow angle opened the floodgates (3-0) before Grasso teed up Jake Gaudet for a lovely finish on one knee to make it four (4-0).

Guay was still trying his luck and his one-timer was repelled by Owen before Smith couldn’t finish the rebound. Piccinich was hungry for a second and was a crossbar’s width away from one before Jordan Kawaguchi joined the party as he forced a loose puck over the line from close range (5-0). Fife were all at sea as, less than a minute later, Grasso got his second with another from close range that he just managed to force past the skate of Owen (6-0).

Third Period

There was to be no let-up for the Flyers as, with Svendsen serving a penalty that was called with just one second remaining in the second, Kawaguchi got his second goal as he sent the puck into the roof of the net after Owen had saved from Piccinich (7-0). What followed was a few minutes of disruption as the Giants served no fewer than three penalties in a four-minute spell, with Fife also serving one.

Ben Lake threatened to get on the scoresheet with his effort tipping off the bar before Grasso capped off a banner individual night with his hat-trick goal (8-0). Adam Keefe’s men also kept the puck out of their own net to earn Whistle his first shut-out of the season.

Up Next

The Giants go on the road tomorrow (Sunday) to face the Dundee Stars at 7pm. They return to home ice next Saturday 27^th September as the Glasgow Clan arrive in town for their first meeting of the season. That is also a 7pm start and you can grab tickets for that one here.