Dundee Stars 1-4 Belfast Giants
THE Belfast Giants made the perfect start to the defence of their league title, securing maximum points from a challenging opening weekend in Scotland after victories over the Dundee Stars and Glasgow Clan.
Adam Keefe’s side began their competitive campaign with a convincing 4-1 Challenge Cup victory over Dundee on Saturday before producing a stirring comeback against Glasgow 24 hours later, recovering from two goals down to win 3-2 after a shootout at the Braehead Arena.
It was a weekend which showcased plenty of promise from a revamped Giants squad, with new faces immediately making their mark and established stars such as Scott Conway and JJ Piccinich providing the attacking spark.
The opening night in Dundee saw Belfast take control from the outset, with Conway and Piccinich immediately causing problems around debutant Stars goaltender Vladislav Pestov.
The Giants thought they had the perfect start when Ciaran Long tipped a Mike Lee effort into the net, but the goal was ruled out after the puck struck Long’s glove.
Belfast continued to apply pressure, however, and were eventually rewarded midway through the opening period.
Mike Lee’s effort was saved by Pestov, but Nicolas Guay reacted quickest to sweep home the rebound and open the scoring after 10 minutes.
The visitors doubled their advantage just four minutes later when another debutant opened his account. Mason Klee produced an outstanding finish from the blue line, unleashing a powerful shot into the roof of the net after Long won a face-off to leave Belfast firmly in control at 2-0.
Dundee survived a spell on the penalty kill late in the period, with Piccinich going close on several occasions, including an effort which struck the post. Jackson Whistle was then called upon at the other end to deny Rasmus Nousiainen as the Stars looked for a route back into the contest.
Belfast continued to dictate proceedings after the restart and eventually extended their advantage just past the half-hour mark.
Nicolas Guay was denied by an excellent save from Pestov, but Patrick Guay was on hand to bury the rebound and make it 3-0.
The Stars refused to fold, though, and their persistence finally paid off when Keaton Jameson got the decisive touch on Brodi Stuart’s shot with just under two minutes remaining in the second period.
That gave Dundee renewed hope at 3-1 heading into the final period.
The Giants were forced to defend a powerplay early in the third when Long was penalised for high sticking, but they survived the danger and almost scored themselves when Logan Cockerill broke away short-handed.
Belfast Giants opened the weekend with a 4-1 win
The final period was relatively even, with both sides creating opportunities without being able to find a breakthrough.
That changed in the 52nd minute when Cole Shudra’s shot was blocked, but Conway reacted fastest to the rebound and fired into the unguarded net to restore Belfast’s three-goal advantage.
Dundee pushed for another consolation but could not find a way past Whistle, while Kaleb Pearson rattled the crossbar in the closing seconds as the Giants secured an impressive 4-1 victory.
Belfast Giants 3-2 Glasgow Clan (Shoot-Out)
If Saturday was a controlled display, Sunday’s clash with Glasgow demanded a completely different response.
The Clan made the perfect start at Braehead as Ross Armour followed up his own shot to put the hosts ahead inside three minutes.
Glasgow goalkeeper Rasmus Tirronen then produced a string of excellent saves to keep Belfast at bay, denying Conway and Kaleb Pearson as the Giants attempted to respond.
The Clan doubled their advantage in the 17th minute when Matt Spencer unleashed a powerful shot from distance which flew past Jake Kupsky.
The Giants faced a mountain to climb at 2-0 down, but Kupsky’s performance kept them in contention and his saves proved crucial as the game progressed.
Belfast finally got themselves back into the contest with just one second remaining in the second period. Mike Lee fired one of his trademark shots from the blue line and Conway produced the perfect deflection to beat Tirronen and reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The momentum immediately swung towards the Giants and, just 22 seconds into the third period, Conway struck again. Piccinich’s effort was pushed away by Tirronen, but Conway reacted quickest to bury the rebound and level the game at 2-2.
The remainder of regulation time was played at a frantic pace, with both teams searching for a winner.
Kupsky and Tirronen both produced superb saves, while Glasgow came agonisingly close when Tristin Langan struck the post.
Neither side could find the decisive goal, sending the contest into overtime. There was little to separate the teams during the additional five minutes and the game ultimately headed to a shootout.
Having endured a similar scenario at Braehead during last season’s play-off quarter-final, Belfast held their nerve this time. Piccinich scored the only goal of the shootout while Kupsky saved all three Glasgow attempts to secure the Giants the extra point and complete a memorable comeback.
The result gave the defending champions maximum points from their opening weekend and plenty of encouragement as they return to Belfast.
The Giants now prepare for their first competitive home games of the season at The O2 Belfast, with Dundee Stars visiting on Saturday, September 19, before Fife Flyers arrive the following day.
After two wins from two, Keefe and his players could hardly have asked for a better start.
