Whistle Stars in Shut-Out Win Over Dundee

The Great Britain international made 26 saves in the win as the Giants returned to winning ways in the Elite League, with Davy Phillips grabbing his first goal of the season and Greg Printz and Bobby MacIntyre also on the scoresheet.

First period

Kohei Sato had the first chance of the game as he spun and fired on goal from the slot but it was well saved by Kevin Carr - 26 saves - before Printz nearly connected with Oliver Cooper in front, while at the other end Whistle did well to deny Spencer Naas’ attempted wraparound.

But the lead would come at 6:19, Phillips shooting from the point and a string of deflections in front saw it sneak in (1-0), and it could have been two shortly after when Elijah Vilio’s delay of game penalty put the Giants on the powerplay but Daniel Tedesco was denied by a world-class glove stop from Carr.

It would be the Stars who would get the best chance to tie it up before the first intermission when Ciaran Long’s tripping call put them on the powerplay and right as it ended Kyle Pouncy cracked a shot off the crossbar, while at the other Quinn Preston managed to send MacIntyre on goal but his backhanded effort was gloved down by Carr.

Second period

The Giants started the period on the front foot and MacIntyre set up Ara Nazarian for the shot from the right circle that Carr gloved wide, while at the other end Naas hit Dundee’s second crossbar of the game when he shot from a tight angle but was denied by the frame of the goal.

And it was Dundee who would ramp up the pressure in the middle period, with Ryan Valentini denied by a defensive stick on the wraparound, while Whistle made a superb save to turn away Vilio’s shot from right in front after he was found by a brilliant pass from behind the net by Jonathan McBean, although the Giants couldn’t capitalise on a high sticking call against Anthony Rinaldi.

But the second period would be one plagued by penalties, with the Giants killing off a brief 5-on-3 as Long (slashing) and Printz (interference), with Tommy Parrottino (hooking) also heading off for Dundee and then Jacob Friend penalised for tripping, and Friend nearly doubled Belfast’s lead just after he emerged from the box, snapping his shot wide from the left circle.

Third period

Whistle was called into action early in the final frame, making a big body save to deny Parrottino’s slapshot from the left circle, while Preston was presented with a backhand chance in front that was blocked by Carr, while a tripping call on Stars captain Drydn Dow also went unpunished.

Another penalty, this one on Brendan Harms for cross-checking, was not capitalised upon by the Giants despite a sharp angle shot from Printz coming off the bar, while Long was close to wrapping up the points as he seized on a loose puck at the blue-line and shot low but it was saved by Carr.

Ryan Valentini had a huge chance to tie it up in the final five minutes as a scrappy play at the crease saw him get the shot away in the left circle but it was gobbled up by Whistle, and instead Printz settled the tie at 55:53 as he benefited from a kind bounce off the linesman to skate in on Carr and finish for the second goal. (2-0)

And with Carr pulled for the extra skater, MacIntyre added the insurance goal with 1:27 remaining as he slid it into the empty net (3-0), with player of the game Whistle sealing the shut-out with his best save of the net as he denied Rinaldi on the breakaway with a stunning pad stop in the dying stages.

Next up

The Stena Line Belfast Giants round off the year with a New Year’s Eve matinee against the Stars at the Dundee Ice Arena before kicking off 2024 with the visit of the Fife Flyers to The SSE Arena, Belfast on Saturday 6 January prior to heading to the Cardiff Devils on Sunday 7 January. Tickets are on sale HERE!