Five-Star Giants Earn Scottish Weekend Split

First Period

The Giants looked motivated from the off and took the lead after 02:55 when, off a faceoff, the puck made its way to Jeff Baum via Scott Conway's stick and the Texan d-man rifled home an unstoppable one-timer for his first goal of the season (0-1). Just over a minute later, the Stars went on the powerplay as Bobo Carpenter was sent to the box for high-sticking but the game would be 4-on-4 just 20 seconds after that when Zachary Tsekos took a seat for cross-checking.

Second Period

The first period was merely a prelude to a chaotic second that began with Jordan Kawaguchi sent to the box and Matt LeFebvre’s side capitalised as Cole MacDonald finished well on 22:08 after being teed up by Brett Gravelle (1-1). Dundee almost took the lead shortly after, only for Jackson Whistle to produce a stunning save diving back to his left before Jarrett Fiske denied Kyle Osterberg on the breakaway. However, the visitors rode out the storm and retook the lead on 28:10 as JJ Piccinich was quickest to react to a Conway blocked shot and bundled the puck over the line from close-range (1-2). The Stars would not lie down though and would capitalise on another powerplay as the Giants came no more than a second away from killing it only for Brendan Harms to sweep home after a good Whistle save on 31:41 (2-2). There was somehow still time for one more oscillation on the scoreboard as Adam Keefe's men had a two-man advantage late in the period when both Stars goal scorers were sent to the box for separate incidents at the same time. Having been unable to capitalise on three previous powerplays, Elijiah Barriga made sure that didn't happen this time as he swatted home a rebound from another Conway shot on 38:22 just 20 seconds into the penalty (2-3).

Third Period

Belfast would not relinquish the lead again and extended it 03:42 into the final period as Barriga moved to the top of the Elite League scoring charts on his own at 11 as he poked home a rebound at the second time of asking as he was jogging on the spot to react quickest to Gabe Bast's saved shot (2-4). Adam Keefe will have been pleased with how his team closed this one out as they kept the hosts at bay, limiting any major chances before opening up a three goal lead thanks to a rocket off the stick of Bobo Carpenter. Barriga would turn provider as Carpenter arrowed one in from the hash marks on 47:41 (2-5). Despite Bast having two separate visits to the penalty box late in the third, the Giants saw out a victory that moves them level on 18 points with fourth placed Sheffield having played a game more.

Next up

The Belfast Giants are on the road again next weekend taking on the Cardiff Devils on Saturday 7 December at 7pm before visiting Coventry to take on the Blaze on Sunday 8 December with a 5:30pm puck drop. You can welcome Adam Keefe's men back home when they return to the SSE Arena on Wednesday 11 December as the Stars come to town. Tickets are available here