Giants Enjoy Perfect Weekend
The Stena Line Belfast Giants made it six wins in-a-row with a Sunday defeat of the Nottingham Panthers. Four middle period goals did the damage for the home side as they reduced the deficit on the first placed Panthers to four points thanks to a 6-1 win.
Sunday’s defeat gave the Giants back-to-back weekends with 100% records following Saturday’s 4-3 win in Glasgow.
Keeper Tyler Beskorowany turned away 30 shots with six different goalscorers, Kendall McFaull, Blair Riley, Francis Beauvillier, Josh Roach, Hunter Bishop and Lewis Hook, scoring the all important goals. Missing for the Belfast side were Colin Shields, Pat Dwyer, Matt Towe, Andrew Dickson and Jim Vandermeer.
The Panthers started by springing on the Giants. Alex Guptill opened the scoring for the visitors when he took full advantage of a fortunate bounce off a Giants skate to put his side in front at 7:50, assisted by Luke Pither.
However, a clinical approach by the Giants put an end to the Panthers’ aspirations in Belfast. Kendall McFall equalised at 24:16, finishing well after a nice give-and-go with Blair Riley.
Riley grabbed a goal of his own only 79 seconds later, redirecting Guillaume Gelinas’ shot past Michael Garnett on the powerplay. Then Francis Beauvillier gave the Giants a two goal lead at 31:30 after a nice pass from Darcy Murphy behind the net.
Josh Roach made it four goals in the middle period when Jonathan Ferland picked out the defenceman at the back post at 34:35.
Then in the final period the win was sealed when Hunter Bishop and Kyle Baun teamed up well to extend the Giants lead to four at 45:47. The forwards skated the puck into the Panthers zone before Baun dished the puck to Bishop whose fierce wrist shot flew into the Nottingham net.
Lewis Hook rounded off the Sunday scoring when he netted for the hosts at 57:07, assisted by David Rutherford.
Final Score
Stena Line Belfast Giants 6-1 Nottingham Panthers
Giants Man of the Match
#27 Kendall McFaull (One Goal)
Next Up?
The Giants will travel to England next weekend for three away games in as many days. Friday and Saturday the Giants take on the Milton Keynes Lightning before facing the Guildford Flames on Sunday.
Next at home for the Giants is the Continental Cup Semi-Final Thursday 15th-Saturday 17th November. Tickets are now on sale from ticketmaster.ie as well as from the Arena Box Office in person or by calling 028 9073 9074.
