Giants Fly Into Top Seeding in Cup Despite Fife Loss

Although captain Mark Cooper scored twice and defenceman Zak Galambos scored his second goal in as many games, the visitors stuck in the game with an impressive defensive performance and would claim the win, although securing a point would be enough for Adam Keefe’s side to be the No.1 seed for the Cup knockouts in the new year.

First period

A hectic start to the game saw the Giants take the lead just 35 seconds in when Grant Mismash fed Cooper on the rush and he beat Janis Voris on the backhand (1-0), but Fife would tie it at 2:08 on a 5-on-3 powerplay as Bobo Carpenter (goaltender interference) and JJ Piccinich (tripping) both sat and Phelix Martineau finished the rebound from Nikolai Shulga’s initial shot (1-1).

Voris was keeping the Flyers level as he denied Ben Lake’s shot from the slot, but a penalty to Patrick Kyte for roughing led to Cooper doubling his tally on the powerplay as he reversed to the doorstep and tapped in his own rebound at 11:21 (2-1) before Ryan Foss’ interference penalty when unpunished.

If it wasn’t for the Flyers’ Latvian netminder then the Giants would have been further ahead at the intermission as Voris made another outstanding save to deny Elijiah Barriga, first turning away Bo Hanson as he drove the net and then throwing himself back across to pad the winger’s shot wide.

Second period

It took just over three minutes of the middle frame for the Flyers to tie it up, a Jeff Baum tripping minor allowing Martineau to set up Foss for the back post tap-in at 23:13 (2-2), but the Giants weren’t level for long as Conway found the perfect pass, holding off a defenceman to feed it across goal for Galambos to finish from close range at 26:12 (3-2).

However, the stubborn Flyers wouldn’t go away and they would level proceedings again at 29:50 as Martineau got his third point of the night, passing from one circle to the other for the onrushing Tyler Heidt to rifle in from the left circle (3-3), while at the other end Voris continued to frustrate the Giants as he denied Piccinich, Kyle Osterberg and Carpenter in quick succession.

Even though the Giants ended the period on the powerplay as Aiden Wilson headed off for cross-checking, they nearly went in behind as a pass across their own net banked off Jackson Whistle and nearly deflected in for a shock Flyers goal but fortunately came back off the post instead, leaving it all-square going into the final period.

Third period

Once again it was Belfast who started the period the stronger and Josh Roach had a big chance to put them ahead only to send his backhand effort wide having skated down the slot, while Mismash flashed a shot wide from a promising position in the right circle as the home side piled on the pressure.

The Giants were left shorthanded when Conway was called for interference, but a slashing penalty against Foss shortened that and, on the abbreviated powerplay, Piccinich was close to giving Keefe’s men the lead back when he cracked a shot off the frame of the goal from the right circle and then Carpenter saw another effort diverted wide by Voris.

A late powerplay for Olivier LeBlanc’s slashing call allowed the Giants to kill the clock in their bid to get the point they needed for top spot in the Cup knockouts, but they weren’t able to find the killer goal to win the game in regulation and both sides took a point - enough for the hosts to ensure they will be top dogs in the new year.

Overtime

Despite getting what they needed, there was still a point for the Giants to play for, but it would be the Flyers who would win it 51 seconds into the extra period as Chiodo cut back across Whistle and slotted in on the backhand to seal the extra point (3-4).

Next up

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants continue their home double-header by welcoming the Glasgow Clan to The SSE Arena, Belfast for an Elite League encounter on Sunday November 17, before welcoming the Guildford Flames to Belfast on Friday November 22. Tickets are on sale and available for purchase here.