Giants Leave it Late to Down Devils in Belfast

First Period

The first period was a frustrating one for the hosts as they tested Devils goalkeeper Ben Bowns on numerous occasions without success. The Team GB international goalie denied Jordan Kawaguchi, Scott Conway, and Kyle Osterberg, and also had his post to thank as it denied Ciaran Long.

This came after the Devils took a lead at 5:35 thanks to a slap shot off the stick of Jarrod Gourley (0-1). The Giants saw Gabe Bast sent to the box for hooking right on the first-period buzzer, which capped off a frustrating opening twenty minutes for the hosts.

Second Period

The second period was a similar situation to the first with the Giants pushing hard for a goal to get back into the game but, more often than not, were denied by Bowns. After killing the aforementioned penalty, the Giants had Tom McCollum to thank as he made a superb save to deny Cole Sanford.

Ben Lake was the next to try his luck on the Cardiff net and found Bowns in inspired form as he denied him first with a marvellous double save and then from close range.

Scott Conway then became the second Giant of the evening to hit the post as his deflected effort came back off the pipe before being smothered midway through the second.

It was turning into a story of the two goalies as McCollum was also proving equal to everything Cardiff was throwing at him in the second and pulled off a stunning reaction stop after Joey Martin tipped Josh MacDonald’s effort goal-bound.

The Giants spent some time in the second with a two-man advantage but could not take advantage and, but for another McCollum save from Ben Davies on the breakaway, could have conceded in that time.

Third Period

After a scoreless second and the clock ticking down in the third, Giants fans could have been forgiven for thinking it perhaps wasn’t going to be their night, but Barriga would turn the game on its head late in the game. His first goal came at 50:04 when he was quickest to react after Bowns pulled off another good stop from Josh Roach (1-1).

With overtime looming, Barriga was sniffing around the net again and scored a poacher’s goal on 57:09. He forced the puck over the line from mere centimetres out after tenacious work behind the net by Osterberg. (2-1).

This gave the game a different look late on as the Devils had to come out on all-out attack having been pegged back after leading for the majority of the game. They dropped Bowns to the bench and the hosts put the gloss on the result with a superb finish from Kawaguchi on 58:59. He scored his first home league goal of the season with a pinpoint accurate shot into the empty net from inside his half. (3-1)

Next Up

The Stena Line Belfast Giants travel to Scotland to face the Fife Flyers on Wednesday 9 October, before taking on the Glasgow Clan at Braehead Arena three days later. The Giants return to action at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Sunday 13 October, hosting the Clan in the second game of a double-header weekend. Tickets are on sale here.