Conway Nets Four as Giants Soar Past Stars

The red-hot centre couldn’t be stopped on home ice as, along with two goals from Nicolas Guay, a further strike from Ryan Smith and a 23-save display from Jackson Whistle, the Giants romped to the two points in their only game of the weekend.

First Period

The Giants had the first look when Marcus Eriksson tipped a Reid Irwin shot on net only to find the pad of Jarrett Fiske, who then produced one of the saves of the game as Jordan Kawaguchi went on the wraparound to feed Jake Gaudet at the back post, only for Fiske to make a superb glove stop, with Whistle responding by denying Matt Berry on the breakaway.

But when the opportunity presented itself, Jackson Desouza boxed for hooking back JJ Piccinich, the Giants were lethal as Eriksson set up Conway in the slot for the one-timer just seven seconds after the infringement at 9:44 (1-0), while Piccinich went close again on a drive close to the net that was well watched by the Stars netminder.

Dundee were having chances on the rush as a fortunate bounce allowed Hampus Olsson to test Whistle, only to find his pads low, while new arrival Carsen Twarynski was close to opening his account when he fired over after he was found in front by Mike Lee, but the lead would be two at the break as Guay added a second at 19:07, rifling in from his knees from the right circle (2-0).

Second Period

Belfast started the middle frame with an outstanding penalty kill on a Ben Lake slashing penalty and then got to work offensively by adding two more in quick succession, Smith firing one in straight off a face-off at 23:15 (3-0) and then, just over a minute later, Conway netted his second as he poked in the puck in a scramble at the crease (4-0).

The hat-trick goal wouldn’t take long in coming and the centre wrapped things up at 29:26 when Piccinich drove the net again and, although his shot wouldn’t trouble Fiske, Conway was on hand to tap in for his treble (5-0), with Goodwin nearly adding another goal for that line when his shot from the slot whistled inches wide of the net shortly after.

The sixth would arrive before the second intermission as Guay netted his second of the night, exchanging passes with Lee before rapping in the one-timer at 34:51 (6-0), although the Stars would end the period on the board as Keanu Yamamoto controlled in front and waited long enough to fire past Whistle at 38:59 (6-1).

Third Period

Buoyed by already having three on the board, Conway could have added to his tally early in the third with a string of big chances, including on a holding penalty against Morten Jurgens, but his attempt flashed wide with Fiske well beaten, while Gaudet could only fire over after strong work down the boards by Jordan Kawaguchi.

But when another powerplay fell the way of the Giants as Matt Boudens sat for high-sticking, Conway would once again make the Stars pay with his fourth of the night, a slapshot from the mid-slot getting through at 50:21 (7-1), with Whistle keeping the copybook from getting further blotted at the other end with a smart save on Ben Almquist in front.

A late penalty on Spencer Naas for tripping would help the Giants see the game out with relative ease, although they somehow didn’t grab an eighth as Fiske made an incredible stop to deny Goodwin and then a goal-line block prevented Conway from taking his own haul to five with the follow-up effort.

Up Next

The Belfast Giants continue their festive schedule with a double-header against the Fife Flyers, at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Boxing Day followed by a trip to Kirkcaldy on Sunday 28 December, and then back-to-back games with the Glasgow Clan on home ice on Tuesday 30 December and then in Scotland on New Year’s Eve.