Five-Star Giants See Off Dundee

First Period

The first period started off slowly but soon the Giants would put together some chances as Grant Mismash tested Richard Sabol before the Dundee goalie almost let a Mark Cooper shot squeeze through his legs but rescued it just in time. Bobo Carpenter then rattled the post as the hosts got closer and closer to an opener. A powerplay came and went after Jonathan McBean was penalised for hooking but a second man advantage in quick succession would prove fruitful. After Zach Tsekos sat down for slashing, the puck was worked to Scott Conway via Gabe Bast and he rifled one home from the right hash marks. (1-0)

Dundee were not without chances of their own as Tom McCollum was called into action to deny Spencer Naas on the break before a stunning save right on the buzzer turned away Tsekos. Josh Roach also came to the rescue when he chased down Jake Elmer and shepherded him away from goal after his own loose pass.

Second Period

The home fans did not have to wait long for the lead to be doubled as the Giants went end to end after Tom McCollum made a good stop, Cameron Pound and Mark Cooper sprung Grant Mismash away and the Minnesotan rifled the puck high into the roof of the net to Sabol’s one-hole. (2-0). A skirmish in front of the Dundee net a couple of minutes later saw two Stars players sent to the penalty box but the hosts could not take advantage of the five-on-three and they would see their lead halved shortly after when Tsekos finished nicely from a narrow angle after McCollum stopped a Philippe Sanche effort. (2-1)

With seven minutes remaining, Ben Lake would take the first Belfast penalty of the night for interference but the Giants wouldn’t just kill the penalty but would score short-handed! Bobo Carpenter was the man to get it and was persistence personified when he finished at the second attempt after his first effort was blocked by a Dundee skate. (3-1). Again, the Stars fought back and would have been back within one but for another spectacular McCollum save, this time from Brett Gravelle.

Third Period

A niggly game spilled over seven minutes into the third as Scott Conway and Brendan Harms clashed in centre ice and were both sent to the penalty box as a result. It was the visitors who would take advantage during this time as, after a scramble in front of the net, Jake Elmer rifled a puck that had eyes through the crowd and into the net to reduce the Giants’ lead to one again (3-2).

What followed was sustained period of Stars pressure that the Giants did well to ride out before they sealed the win with two late goals. First JJ Piccinich broke on his own and swept home to raise the roof in the arena and give the hosts some breathing space before the Stars dropped their goalie and went all out for the last two minutes (4-2). Mismash went looking for his second of the night but hit the post from distance but P.O. Morin made no mistake as the Québécois forward put the icing on the cake with just four seconds remaining. (5-2)

Next Up

The Giants round out 2024 with a quick turnaround in Dundee today with a 2pm puck drop at the Dundee Ice Arena before returning to the SSE Arena on Friday 3 January as they welcome the Sheffield Steelers. Upcoming game tickets are selling fast. Get them here.