Gr-eight night for Giants in competitive home opener

First Period

The visitors could not have got off to a better start as Maxim Eliseev smashed home a powerful one-timer after just 17 seconds to open the scoring (0-1). The Giants responded well with efforts from Mike Lee and Mason Klee stopped by Vladislav Pestov in the Dundee goal. Keaton Jameson then tried his luck but put the puck over Jackson Whistle’s net.

Kaleb Pearson was next to try his luck to no avail before the hosts got back on level terms thanks to JJ Piccinich who finished smartly (1-1). The home fans were celebrating again soon after with Logan Cockerill leading them, but he was adjudged to have used his skate to force the puck home.

Despite this, the home side did not stop their momentum and, after Eliseev was sat down for tripping, the second goal came. It was Piccinich again who put the clinical finishing touch on a nicely-worked powerplay move that was set up by David Goodwin (2-1).

Jake Gaudet and Cole Shudra had good chances to extend the lead with the latter stopped from right in front before The O2 Belfast held its collective breath as Gary Haden bore down on goal but Whistle made a stunning save to deny him and keep the lead at one heading into the first intermission.

Second Period

While the first was an evenly-contested affair, the Giants broke out in a big way in the second. First, Shudra finished from a Morten Jensen set-up (3-1) before Mike Lee teed up Cockerill for a neat close-range finish that counted this time (4-1). The Stars were looking shell-shocked and were struggling to get anything going offensively.

They were given a sliver of hope when Gaudet was sent to the penalty box for tripping but, in actuality, the Giants were the ones who took advantage when Lee registered another assist, this time for Ciaran Long who scored short-handed for a fifth for the hosts (5-1).

Not content with stopping there, the Giants kept tacking on and Kaleb Pearson picked up where he left off in pre-season with a rasper of a shot for his first competitive goal of the season (6-1). Piccinich went hunting for his hat-trick but was repelled on this occasion as the Stars tried to stem the flow. However, the New Jersey native could only be denied for so long as he finished Lee’s set-up on the powerplay (7-1).

This goal prompted Scott Duterte to change his goalie as Dominick Jaglar replaced Pestov and the Czech goalie made some god stops before the period was over on shots from Pearson and Ty Prefontaine.

Third Period

That second period blitz meant that the result was sealed for the Giants but they still continued to push. Patrick Guay in particular was thwarted on more than once occasion by Jaglar who provided some relief in goal. Morten Jensen unleashed a powerful shot that was also repelled by the Stars goalie.

Rasmus Nousiainen tried in vain to pull a goal back for Dundee before they were awarded a penalty shot which was taken by Tyson Laventure. Despite largely being a spectator all night, Whistle kept his focus and denied the Stars forward.

There was still time for an eighth goal and it came from number 8 as Pearson absolutely hammered past the impressive Jaglar who was left with no chance at his near post (8-1). That rounded off an impressive evening for the hosts as they marked the first competitive game at The O2 Belfast in style.

Up Next

It’s a quick turnaround for the Giants as they welcome the Fife Flyers to The O2 Belfast tomorrow (Sunday) at 5pm. Limited tickets are still available to purchase here.