Giants Suffer OT Defeat to KalPa

First Period

The hosts could not have asked for a better start as they stunned the Finnish visitors with a goal inside the first minute. It was a first goal in teal for Patrick Grasso as the Iowa native sniped a shot from the narrowest of angles that snuck past Patrik Kerkola in the KalPa goal (1-0).

That got the home crowd into the game early and another new boy in Garrett McFadden almost made it two moments later. However, a third man making his competitive debut at the other end was also called into action. Alexis Gravel made back-to-back saves from Joona Saarelainen and Saku Salmela before the latter of those two teed up captain Jaakko Rissanen for the leveller on four minutes.

The opposite number 12s in Saarelainen and J.J. Piccinich then exchanged chances before McFadden was sent to the penalty box for holding. CHL rules meant that he would stay there regardless of if KalPa scored but the hosts killed the penalty as the game fell into a late first period lull. Gravel was at it again as he denied Andreas Olkany and Lasse Lappalainen in a magnificent double save. The visitors would also kill a penalty just before the buzzer as Anton Karlsson was sat down for a boarding call on David Goodwin as the sides went in level at a goal apiece after 20 minutes (1-1).

Second Period

The middle period was not as quick to light but, when it did, the traffic was towards the goalkeeper wearing yellow. First, Kell Beattie had an effort blocked by the pads of Kerkola before Goodwin danced through the defence but lacked a finish. The hosts went on the powerplay again when Teemu Hartikainen was penalised for slashing. It was even briefly five on three when Sami Tervonen’s side had too many men on the ice. They did get one back but, before parity could be restored, Belfast retook the lead (2-1).

It was Nicolas Guay’s initial rasping shot that ratted the post before Ryan Smith reacted quickest to snaffle up his first goal in teal. Jake Gaudet was then sent to the penalty box for elbowing, but his teammates stood firm, not least his goalkeeper. The German-born Canadian international made no fewer than three top class saves while down a man with the most impressive coming from the stick of Filip Westerlund.

After Ben Lake had a shot tipped into the screen, KalPa thought they had another equaliser right on the buzzer. However, a long video review by the officials ruled that time had elapsed before the Finns could squeeze the puck over the line.

Third Period

That meant that Adam Keefe’s men entered the third period ahead, but KalPa had their tails up and made life difficult. Hugo Gallet and Juuso Könönen were the first to test Gravel who stood firm yet again. Things got even tougher when McFadden was binned for a second time but, once again, his side rode out the man disadvantage. The new man between the Belfast pipes was having a stunning evening and he somehow kept out Rissanen and everybody else in the ensuing scramble.

As expected, the Giants had to ride out pressure, but they were not without chances of their own in the final stanza as Scott Conway and Marcus Eriksson threatened. However, the away side would peg the hosts back with just over a minute left as Juuso Mäenpää snuck in at the back post (2-2). Just 80 seconds into overtime, the Giants were caught on the break as Patrick Curry swept home to win the game for KalPa and break the home faithful’s hearts (2-3).

The Giants remain in home CHL action against Finnish opposition, taking on Ilves Tampere on Saturday 30 August. Tickets are on sale and available to purchase here.