Giants on Mcleod Nine After Win Over Stars

Canadian winger McLeod rapped in two goals to go with further strikes from Ben Lake, Travis Brown, David Goodwin and Cameron Pound, while player of the game Friend led from the back as the Giants kicked off a run of three games in four days with two points.

First period

An early powerplay for the Stars nearly led to the opening goal of the game as Pound’s hooking call saw Ryan Valentini hit the crossbar, while Blake Speers was denied by the pad of Kevin Carr on the shorthanded breakaway in the other direction, with the Giants unable to capitalise on an Elijiah Vilio hooking minor before the period sparked into life.

Two goals in 49 seconds put the home side ahead, Speers reversing the pass through the crease for McLeod to tap in at 8:52 (1-0) before Lake added on at 9:41 when he was picked out by Josh Roach in the right circle (2-0), but the Stars would respond when Spencer Naas got in behind the Giants’ defence and beat Jackson Whistle - 20 saves - low on the backhand at 11:03. (2-1)

On his return to the line-up after injury, Ara Nazarian was denied by Carr from the slot but the third goal wasn’t long in coming as Brown grabbed his third goal in his last four games, tapping in five-hole off Sean Norris’ centring feed at 15:21 (3-1), although the Stars came close to responding late in the period when Naas hit the post from the angle.

Second period

It took the Giants just 28 seconds of the second period to extend their lead as Daniel Tedesco gave Goodwin a back post tap-in for his goal (4-1) before the Giants saw out a slashing call on Lake, although Bobby MacIntyre came closest to adding on as his snapshot from the left circle was gloved down by Carr.

Dundee would strike back at 30:44 as a giveaway out in front allowed Chris McKay to snap in the finish (4-2) and but for Whistle making a couple of big saves shortly after then they could have made it even closer, denying Carter Johnson twice in quick succession after Tommy Parrottino shot over on the breakaway.

It would be the Stars who would have the better chances as the period wore down, however they were unable to find a way through on a slashing penalty against Kohei Sato, while Whistle once again made a big stop to block a late effort from Parrottino.

Third period

Tedesco had an early chance to extend the Giants’ lead when his initial shot was saved by Carr and he fired the rebound over the bar.

Belfast couldn’t score on the powerplay, although Carr needed to make a wonder save to deny Oliver Cooper for that to be the case, while at the other end the Giants completed their fourth kill of the night to play out a high-sticking penalty on Norris.

But the result would be secured when McLeod fired in his second, doing it all himself by skating in from the neutral zone and lasering a shot low past Carr at 52:30 (5-2), with Pound wrapping things up at 59:26 as his initial shot squeezed through the netminder’s pads but he was there to tap in his own rebound to finish things off. (6-2)

Next Up

The Stena Line Belfast Giants begin March with a massive home double-header against the Coventry Blaze on Friday 1 and Saturday 2. Get tickets HERE.