Giants Weather Storm to Hit First Place

With the Cardiff Devils out of action due to their Continental Cup commitments, goals from Bobo Carpenter, J.J. Piccinich and Gabe Bast allowed Adam Keefe’s men to overtake their rivals at the top.

First period

Jackson Whistle was the first netminder tested as he did well to steer away a rasping shot from Alexis d’Aoust before Bo Hanson took a slashing penalty that the home side needed to be smart to kill, with Piccinich coming close to breaking the deadlock when he skated in from the left circle and cranked a shot off the crossbar.

The breakthrough came at 10:31 as Loren Ulett was called for tripping and the Giants took full advantage on the powerplay as quick passing from David Goodwin and Grant Mismash set up Carpenter for the back door tap-in (1-0) and Piccinich doubled the lead on their second powerplay as Alexis d’Aoust was pinged for accidental high-sticking and Jordan Kawaguchi and Mark Cooper provided the back post finish for the winger at 15:27 (2-0).

Piccinich nearly doubled his tally on the second half of D’Aoust’s double-minor as he hit the post on a near identical play to his goal, but Bast added the third 30 seconds before the first intermission as he was given time and space in the mid-slot to pick his spot and he rifled into the bottom corner (3-0).

Second period

The Storm couldn’t capitalise on an early powerplay opportunity as Scott Conway headed off for interference, while the visitors lost starting netminder Evan Weninger to injury after a collision with Bobo Carpenter and they nearly got on the board once the two sides returned to full strength as D’Aoust fired the pass across for Stephen Johnson but his shot was tipped inches wide.

Despite Belfast wrestling back control of the period, it was still Manchester who were getting the chances and Whistle did well to pad away an effort from D’Aoust from the right circle, while at the other end Conway rifled one just wide from the slot after some tenacious build-up before Alexander Oldale - who replaced Weninger in goal - blockered away Pierre-Olivier Morin’s effort.

But eventually the weight of chances finally paid off for the Storm and it was that man D’Aoust who profited from a bouncing puck off Dallas Ehrhardt’s shot, batting it in at the crease at 36:25 (3-1), and the visitors would end the period on the powerplay as Ciaran Long headed off for cross-checking.

Third period

It took just 48 seconds of the final period for the Storm to make it a one-goal game as Grant Hebert’s pass to the back post found Craig Martin and he fired in for the powerplay goal on Long’s holdover penalty (3-2) and Whistle had to make a big stop to deny C.J. Garcia in front after some good play by D’Aoust behind the net.

Piccinich was unlucky not to grab the Giants’ fourth when he skated in on the rush with Goodwin but a Storm defenceman just got his stick in in time to break up the play, and Cooper was close to grabbing the fourth on the powerplay when Hebert was penalised for charging, the captain firing just wide from Kawaguchi’s pass to the right circle.

Needing a goal to tie the game and force overtime, the Storm threw everything at the Giants in the final few minutes, including pulling Oldale for the extra skater, but the goal wouldn’t come and the home side would hang on for the two points to wrap up top spot.

Next up

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants are on their travels as they head to the Guildford Flames on Wednesday January 22, followed by a return to home ice to take on the Coventry Blaze on Saturday January 25 and a visit to the Cardiff Devils on Sunday January 26. Tickets for January 25 are on sale and available to purchase here.