Morin Flies High As Giants Put Eight Past Ravens

The Canadian centreman’s treble was backed up by two goals from Kyle Osterberg on his return to the line-up and further strikes from Joe Cassetti, Jordan Kawaguchi and J.J. Piccinich on a night where the forwards reigned in Belfast.

First period

It was a dominant first period for the Giants and Ravens netminder Tye Austin was comfortably the busier of the two, making a good stop on Elijiah Barriga after Mark Cooper’s feed back in front, then a smart double save on Josh Roach preceded Morin hitting the post with a sharp effort.

But the dam was always going to burst with the swell of chances the Giants were having and it came through the returning Osterberg, who took Kawaguchi’s feed in the slot and picked the top corner for the opener at 8:29 (1-0), although the Ravens nearly levelled shortly after when a bouncing puck was chipped into the midriff of Tom McCollum.

Belfast had to be alert to kill a cross-checking penalty on Mason Alderson but they did so and extended their lead with two goals before the intermission, Kawaguchi again the provider for Morin to smash one home from the slot at 15:45 (2-0), then Cassetti taking advantage of a tripping penalty to Alexandre Hogue as he tapped in off some nice passing by Piccinich and Barriga at 18:51 (3-0).

Second period

Belfast could have had a fourth early in the second period when a scramble around the net was almost converted by Morin but instead Carleton pulled one back at 24:16 to reduce the gap, Alex Johnston turning the puck over behind the net and Felix Bedard set up Oliver Castleman for the tap-in finish (3-1).

That goal seemed to spark the Giants back into life, though, and after Austin made another strong save to deny Ciaran Long driving the net it was Morin’s second that restored the three-goal lead when he flicked in a rebound off a Gabe Bast effort (4-1) and they were unlucky not to grab a fifth on a slashing call against a Raven.

Despite not having much to do throughout the game, McCollum was still alert when called upon as he denied an excellent rebound chance for Braeden Virtue at the back post and then a breakaway chance for Will Collins shortly after, followed by an outstanding defensive effort on a lengthy 5-on-3 penalty kill as Long (hooking) and Morin (cross-checking) sat.

Third period

It took just 36 seconds of the final period for Morin to complete his hat-trick, jumping onto a rebound in the slot and slamming in the shot (5-1), and Kawaguchi got his deserved goal when he was found in the right circle by Long for the one-time finish at 45:38 (6-1).

Still the Ravens kept fighting despite the scoreline and although 21 was denied on the breakaway by McCollum, the visitors would get another one back at 50:07 on a delayed penalty as Bedard picked up on a rebound to fire low into the net (6-2), but the Giants would finish strongly with two more goals to add gloss to the scoreline.

Piccinich got the first at 52:08 as he was in the right place to finish off the rebound from Grant Mismash’s attempted wraparound for the Giants’ seventh (7-2), and then Osterberg finished things off when he was set up by Morin for the snipe to round off a superb night in front of goal for the home team (8-2).

Next up

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants complete their pre-season schedule with the second game of their Canadian college pre-season double-header when they face the University of Alberta Golden Bears on Sunday 1 September, with Alberta and Carleton clashing on Saturday 31 August. Tickets available here.