Gr-eight start to Continental Cup for Giants

First Period

The Giants got off to a fast start and were getting shots on goal early through their D-men. First Mike Lee and then Christian Berger tried their luck were both denied by Karlis Meszargs in the Mogo goal. The Latvian outfit the tested Jake Kupsky at the other end as the Giants goalie had to react well to tip Ronalds Kenins’ shot over the top.

The Giants then had another couple of chances through JJ Piccinich who shot wide before Scott Conway’s stick broke at the worst time meaning his shot was easily held by Meszargs. Renarts Berzins then got a puck on net before a clapper from Kaleb Pearson was well saved. The men in teal then killed a penalty when Morten Jensen was sat down for tripping as it looked as though we were heading into the first intermission scoreless but Piccinich slid home from close range after good work from David Goodwin on 19:46 to send Belfast into the locker rooms with a lead (1-0).

Second Period

Mogo began the second searching for an equaliser and Kupsky had to be alert to deny Rauls Ozollapa before the Giants set about extending their lead. Jordan Kawaguchi slid wide from just in front before Jensen’s shot was deflected wide. Having been denied by Meszargs once more, Kawaguchi was not to be denied a third time and he slid home a rebound after Patrick Guay’s shot was saved on 26:49 (2-0).

This saw the floodgates open and the Elite League champions were four goals to the good within another 90 seconds thanks to a second of the game from Piccinich on 27:58 (3-0) and a rasper off the stick of Jaeden Martin on 28:18 (4-0). Carter Hamill then came close to adding to the lead before Mogo managed to get a shot away through Kaspars Ziemens that Kupsky held.

Despite Hamill being sat down for holding, that did niot stop the goal parade for the Giants and Logan Cockerill set up Nicolas Guay for a short-handed fifth on 33:55 (5-0). Meszargs was under heavy fire in the Mogo goal throughout and made an impressive save off Patrick Guay but he could do nothing to stop a sixth from Kaleb Pearson who unleashed a powerful strike into the net at 37:06 to round off the scoring in a fabulous second for Adam Keefe’s men (6-0).

Third Period

Girts Ankipans’ side came out at the beginning of the third looking to get on the scoreboard and Kupsky had to be on his toes to first tip Ingus Locmelis’ shot into the screen before he gloved an effort from Kristers Ansons.

Despite this, the Giants were looking comfortable and, after Mason Klee’s shot was deflected wide, the Colorado-born defenseman turned provider for Kawaguchi who beat replacement net minder Janis Sidass on 52:05 for his second and his team’s seventh of the game (7-0).

There was still time for more and it was Piccinich who was sprang clear by Scott Conway to beat Sidass on 54:16 to finish off a superb afternoon’s work for the Giants (8-0)

Up Next

The Giants will face tournament hosts Dragons de Rouen tomorrow evening with the game starting at 7pm GMT. They are next at home next weekend for a big Motorpoint Elite League double-header against the Nottingham Panthers. You can still get tickets for that one here.