Giants End Year With Win

The Belfast Giants came from behind late in the third period to win an overtime thriller 4-3 on away ice against the Dundee Stars in their final game of 2024.

First Period

The first period was largely one-way traffic, and it started right from the off with Jordan Kawaguchi finding his route to goal blocked after making a good move in front of Jarrett Fiske. The Stars goalie would then make a good stop with his skate when Ben Lake pounced on Mark Cooper’s pass before denying Kawaguchi again from close range as the forward was creating problems around the net. Cooper then poked wide after Jake Elmer gave the puck away but Elmer would soon hurt the Giants on the breakaway.

After being played in by a perfectly weighted pass by Jonathan McBean, the Calgary native stayed composed and fired a shot into the top corner over Jackson Whistle’s right shoulder. (1-0). This gave the hosts some confidence after riding out the early storm and Whistle was called into action again to deny Zach Tsekos while P.O. Morin tracked back well to help out Bo Hanson in a two-on-one as he just got a poke check in to deny Philippe Sanche. The Giants rode out a penalty call against Karl Boudrais but could not capitalise when Elijiah Barriga and Bobo Carpenter were involved in a scramble in front of the Dundee net as the hosts led at the break despite being out-shot 26-6.

Second Period

The second period began much like the first ended with Adam Keefe’s men on top and piling the pressure on but finding the goal impossible to breach as numerous chances went by the wayside. The Giants were doing everything right as they got pucks to the net but were finding it blocked either by Fiske or somebody else in navy blue and red tartan. Mike Lee teed up Cooper for a one-timer that the Pennsylvania-born keeper did well to hold on to. Dundee were holding out well and would again strike against the run of play on 33:23. Jake Pouncy was given time to strike from the blue line and Elmer – celebrating his 26^th birthday – tipped in his second of the day to double his side’s lead. (2-0)

The visitors needed a response, and they were helped by Xavier Pouliot as the Québec-born defenseman was sent to the penalty box for roughing. While he was in there, the Giants finally scored as JJ Piccinich was the quickest to react when his captain Cooper saw another shot saved as the number 12 scooped it in to halve the deficit on 36:30 (2-1). That was the way it would stay as we entered the third.

Third Period

It looked as though the Giants would be heading home with nothing when, five minutes into the third period, Spencer Naas rifled a shot past Whistle after being teed up by Brendan Harms (3-1). The clock kept ticking down but the Giants would not give up hope as they pulled to within one with just six to go when Scott Conway poked a loose puck over the line through a crowd of bodies in front of the net (3-2). This put the Stars on the back foot and the men in white and teal poured bodies forward and it was the slightest of touches from Kawaguchi that drew them level. Mike Lee ripped a shot that the British Columbian forward was able to get the faintest but most crucial of touches to as he did enough to divert it past Fiske who had an excellent game between the pipes for the hosts. (3-3) Both teams changed goalies from the previous day’s matchup in Belfast and both had excellent games as Whistle pulled off two miraculous saves to ensure the game went to OT. First with Harms baring down on him one-on-one he stayed big and denied him before, in a mass of bodies he kept Kameron Kielly’s effort out with a brave and athletic stop with his glove behind his back.

Overtime

The three-on-three overtime did not last long as captain Mark Cooper made a strong and determined rush on the goal and, despite Fiske poke-checking it away from him, the puck fell to an off-balance Ben Lake who rifled the puck home just 24 seconds in to send the away bench and travelling fans into raptures. (3-4) A great come-from-behind victory for Adam Keefe’s men to keep the pressure on league-leaders Cardiff.

Next up

The first game of 2025 sees the Sheffield Steelers come to Belfast for an Elite Ice Hockey League clash at The SSE Arena on Friday 3 January. Tickets are available to purchase here.