Giants Secure Four-Point Weekend with Victory in Nottingham

Backed by a 27-save performance from netminder Tyler Beskorowany, the Giants secured victory thanks to goals from Daniel Tedesco, Matt McLeod, Kohei Sato, and Ara Nazarian.

FIRST PERIOD

A fast start to the game saw both teams score inside the opening 65 seconds, the Giants taking the lead at 0:33 when Tedesco seized upon a giveaway from Carl Neill to fire past Rok Stojanovic (0-1), only for Jake Ryzcek to tie it up at 1:05 when he was afforded the freedom to snap home the equaliser from the slot. (1-1)

New signing Bobby MacIntyre almost got his first goal in teal when Nazarian drove the puck to the back post for him, but he couldn’t connect, while Beskorowany was on top form to deny first Hugo Roy with the initial shot and then Otto Nieminen’s rebound.

Both sides had chances to add to their tallies late in the first period on the powerplay, as firstly Simon Després was sent to the box for hooking for the Panthers, after which Ciaran Long was penalised for the Giants, but neither side could break the tie before the intermission, with Nazarian coming closest for the visitors.

SECOND PERIOD

Like in the first period, there were early chances for both teams in the second as a brilliant stretch pass sent Charlie Curti in on Stojanovic, but the netminder managed to save, while at the other end, Beskorowany did similarly when Roy got another opportunity from the right circle.

It felt like most of the chances were falling to the home side, with Neill finding himself in the unfamiliar position of right in front of goal when a lucky bounce gave him a chance that he shot wide on the backhand, while Nieminen was granted a massive shorthanded chance on the breakaway but once again Beskorowany was there to spare the Giants’ blushes.

Adam Keefe’s side weren’t having any lack of chances either, though, and they had three powerplay chances to take the lead at the second intermission as Alexander Lunsjö, Michael Caruso, and Després all sat at different points of the period, but they couldn’t capitalise.

THIRD PERIOD

The Giants were left shorthanded when McLeod took a hooking call late in the second period, and they survived Ollie Betteridge’s tipped effort going close, but McLeod would make up for his penalty with the go-ahead goal at 41:22, as he burst out of the box, beat two players for pace and finished through the legs of Stojanovic on the wraparound. (1-2)

Belfast did endure Didrik Henbrant hitting the post with a rebound, followed by a cross-checking call against Travis Brown that was played out by the visitors, with MacIntyre once again coming close to a first goal when he was fed by Nazarian but couldn’t finish.

A strong defensive display saw the Giants deal with penalties against Travis Brown and Charlie Curti, allowing Kohei Sato to slide the puck into the empty net with 1:31 remaining to seemingly secure the win (1-3), only for Henbrant to make it a one-goal game again at 58:45 with a fine shot from the right face-off dot. (2-3)

But the Giants would secure the win with 13 seconds left on the clock, as Nazarian got his goal, firing into the empty net with Stojanovic pulled once more for the two points. (2-4)

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants are on the road to take on the Glasgow Clan on Friday December 1 at the Braehead Arena, with their return to home ice coming on Sunday December 3 with the visit of the Sheffield Steelers. Tickets are available here.