Challenge Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg
Tuesday 29th January – Braehead Arena
Glasgow Clanxa0 xa02-1xa0 xa0Stena Line Belfast Giantsxa0
The Stena Line Belfast Giants fell to a 2-1 defeat in Tuesday’s Challenge Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg.
The Glasgow Clan took a 2-0 lead after 25 minutes with Kyle Baun’s powerplay goal bringing the visitors to within one ahead of the decisive 2nd Leg in Belfast on Thursday 14th February.
Tyler Beskorowany started in the Giants net with the Belfast side missing Hunter Bishop, Guillaume Gelinas, Matt Towe and Andrew Dickson.
After an even opening period of play, it was the home side who would break the deadlock.
Matt Beca, assisted by Brendan Connolly and Scott Pitt, bundled the puck home at 19:56 to take a one goal advantage into the first intermission.
But the Giants battled back following Glasgow’s second.
At 25:32, the Clan extended their Semi-Final lead. This time it was Gerard Hanson on hand to turn the puck into the Belfast net, assisted by Zach Sullivan.
At 32:30, Jonathan Ferland dropped the gloves with Glasgow’s Michal Gutwald – as the Clan player picked up an additional two minute Instigator penalty to send the Giants on the powerplay.
The Giants rallied and pulled one back through Kyle Baun’s powerplay strike at 33:54, assisted by Curtis Leonard.
The Giants piled on the pressure during the final period, though could not find a way past Joel Rumpel in the Clan goal.
The Glasgow netminder turned away 25 shots to help his side take a one goal advantage into the Semi-Final 2nd Leg in Belfast on Thursday 14th February.
Final Score
Glasgow Clan 2-1 Stena Line Belfast Giants.
Giants Player of the Game
#10 Curtis Leonardxa0(1 Assist)
Next Up?
The Challenge Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg against the Glasgow Clan takes place Thursday 14th February in Belfast, face-off 7pm.
Next up for the Giants are home games this Saturday and Sunday against the Coventry Blaze and Nottingham Panthers respectively.
Both games face-off 7pm at The SSE Arena and tickets are now on sale online fromxa0ticketmaster.iexa0as well as from the Arena Box Office, in person or by calling (028) 9073 9074.
