Giants fall in OT to Storm

First Period

The Giants started off stronger, with chances for Bo Hanson and Ciaran Long blocked by Evan Weniger in the Storm goal. Zach Sullivan had the first real effort for the visitors but it didn’t make it as far as Alexis Gravel as it was blocked in front.

It was a bitty and feisty first period with the two teams sharing ten penalty minutes between them with the Giants taking six of those. After scoring last night, Gary Haden was taking it upon himself to get the Storm on the board. He had three chances in quick succession without success while Gabe Bast and JJ Piccinich tested Weniger at the other end. Ciaran Long and Brendon Clavelle exchanged chances as the first period ended scoreless.

Second Period

Kaleb Ergang had an early chance for the Storm when he followed up his own shot that came back off the boards but he couldn’t finish. Tyler Hinman then had a shot blocked as the visitors were pushing for the opener but defencemen Long and Reid Irwin answered back with efforts testing Weniger. Nick Welsh came a post’s width away from a Storm goal but with Haden in the bin for high-sticking, the hosts struck.

It was Nicolas Guay who put the finishing touches on a move that involved JJ Piccinich and saw the last pass come from an inch-perfect Mike Lee delivery (1-0). The visitors answered back with Loren Ulett and Harrison Caines testing Gravel but the Giants goalie remained firm to hold the lead heading into the second intermission.

Third Period

In what was shaping up to be a tense third period, Brady Gilmour danced his way through the home defence but couldn’t produce a finish. The period was, once again, plagued by penalties and, with the Giants down two men in a 5-on-3, the dangerous Haden took advantage and equalised for the Storm. (1-1)

Gravel then made a miraculous save with his legs and the puck behind him to preserve the parity as Storm pursued a goal to put them ahead for the first time in the night. However, the host were also pushing in what was a pulsating end to the period. Long whistled one wide while Brandon Whistle couldn’t make the most of a Marcus Eriksson pass.

As the clock ticked towards the end of regulation, both teams were eager to end the game after 60 minutes with Adam Keefe’s men digging hard. Reid Irwin came close while Jordan Kawaguchi’s attempted tip on Piccinich’s shot couldn’t find the net meaning we would head into overtime.

Overtime

The game would not last long in overtime with the visitors walking away with the maximum points thanks to Nick Welsh. The Nova Scotia native rifled home a drive just 17 seconds after the restart to send the travelling fans home happy and earn a weekend split in Belfast (1-2)

Up Next

The Giants are at home again this coming Friday (21 Nov) as they welcome Coventry Blaze to Belfast, for the first meeting between the sides this year. You can grab tickets for the game here.