Giants Blaze to Four-Point Weekend in Coventry

Six different scorers found the net as Bobo Carpenter, Ciaran Long, Karl Boudrias, Mark Cooper, Gabe Bast and Scott Conway all netted for Adam Keefe’s men.

First period

A strong start from Coventry saw Zach Heintz have the first chance of the game as he dispossessed Cameron Pound at the blue-line and hit the post with his effort, while Mat Robson made his first stop of the game when Grant Mismash got in close but the netminder was able to deny him.

It was that second line that was buzzing around for the Giants and Mismash nearly set up Ben Lake for a tap-in, only for the centre to put his effort into the side netting, while the Blaze had a big chance to open the scoring when Carpenter was called for slashing but the Giants’ special teams shut the door emphatically.

Only for a stellar defensive showing from Coventry was the game still tied at the intermission as Bo Hanson saw a shot blocked and then Elijiah Barriga was denied by an excellent pad save from Robson, with Tom McCollum making an equally good save with his shoulder as Alessio Luciani looked threatening.

Second period

After a scoreless first period, the Giants would be two to the good just after the three-minute mark of the second, Carpenter opening the scoring when he took Pierre-Olivier Morin’s pass back in front and fired in the one-timer at 22:34 (0-1), followed by Long gaining the blue line and rifling into the top corner at 23:20 to double their lead (0-2).

Coventry had a good pushback, Luciani denied on the wraparound by McCollum and then a deflected effort from Mike Kennedy padded away by the netminder, and instead Belfast grabbed a third when Boudrias’ shot through traffic went all the way through and in past the unsighted McCollum at 33:45 (0-3).

But, similarly, just as the Giants nearly had a fourth when Morin’s wraparound attempt was well kept out by Robson, as was the rebound chance, the Blaze got on the board when a pinball effort finally landed on the stick of Jack Hopkins and he tapped into the empty net at 37:01 to make it a two-goal spread at the break (1-3).

Third period

Coventry had two massive early chances as Chase Gresock and Luciani both got in one-on-one with McCollum but the netminder made the save both times, with both sides missing chance son the powerplay as Josh Roach sat for hooking and then Jakob Stridsberg was called for slashing for the Blaze.

But in a quick flash the Giants put the game to bed, Cooper finding the fourth at 48:02 as he was perfectly placed to tap in after Barriga wrapped around the back of the net (1-4) and then, just 54 seconds later, Bast rifled one into the top corner from the right circle on the delayed penalty (1-5).

Despite holding a comfortable lead, the Giants kept pushing and after they failed to capitalise on a rebound for J.J. Piccinich, which was saved by Robson, and a Mike Kennedy penalty for slashing, Conway rounded it all off when he batted in his own rebound after it hit off the backboards at 58:08 to round off the scoring (1-6).

Next up

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants return to home ice on Wednesday 11 December when they welcome the Dundee Stars to The SSE Arena, Belfast, with the Sheffield Steelers the only opposition next weekend when they arrive in Northern Ireland on Sunday 15 December. Tickets are available to purchase here.