Goals from Scott Conway and David Goodwin, and ultimately a Jackson Whistle save over Fife’s Tommi Jokinen, clinched the victory.
The Belfast Giants’ week-long road swing came to a thrilling conclusion in Kirkcaldy on Sunday night, as Slater Doggett’s last gasp equaliser sent the game to overtime and a shootout.
The Giants return to Belfast after four games in five days having secured seven points out of eight: leapfrogging the Cardiff Devils into second place in the Premier Sports Elite Ice Hockey League.
FIRST PERIOD
A cagey first period was to unfold as the Giants took to the ice for their fourth road game of the week, with their hosts not long home from a marathon bus trip to Guildford the night before.
The Fife Flyers had a slight offensive edge in the opening 10 minutes, with Kristian Blumenschein’s snipe on Giants’ goalie Jackson Whistle going to review before being washed off for goalie interference.
Fife continued to threaten after the restart, as Matt Carter’s shot through traffic was gloved in style by Whistle.
The Giants grew into the game mid period, as Tyler Soy’s break down the slot and attempted deke on Flyers’ goalie (and former Giant) Shane Owen was turned away brilliantly – the visitors’ best chance of the first.
Whistle was next to pull off an athletic double save at the opposite end in the 13th minute, but as the klaxon sounded after 20, the score remained deadlocked.
SECOND PERIOD
The Flyers looked the more dangerous of the sides as the middle period got underway. Jacob Benson’s pass from the left to Brandon Magee in the slot was chested by Whistle, before Greg Chase played a puck in from the opposite side to Carson Stadnyk mid period, which was also denied by the Giants’ goalie.
A battling zone entry mid period was the first sign of Giants’ offence in the second, but David Goodwin’s miss at the back door left the score unchanged.
The hosts continued to press in the Belfast zone and were rewarded courtesy of Kyle Thacker at 32:20; roofing the puck from the left circle on his home debut after joining Fife earlier this week (Assist: Carson Stadnyk). (1-0)
The Giants needed just four seconds of power play to level the score after a James Isaacs holding call at 37:22, when David Goodwin wristed home from close range (Assist: Cam Knight). (1-1)
A string of penalties left Belfast closing out the period on the 5 on 3 kill, as Ciaran Long (high sticking, 38:47), Scott Conway (tripping, 39:12) and Ben Lake (delay of game, 39:32) all took a seat in quick succession.
THIRD PERIOD
Belfast’s ill discipline late in the second proved costly as Chris Lawrence jabbed the puck home after a frantic scramble in front of Whistle at 41:05, edging Fife back into the lead (Assist: Kristian Blumenschein, Matt Carter). (2-1)
JJ Piccinich rang the iron as Belfast chased their equaliser mid period.
Goal scorer Chris Lawrence took a late penalty for hooking at 57:35, sending Whistle to the bench for a 6 on 4 Giants power play. With Belfast set up in the zone, Scott Conway zipped the puck to the feet of Slater Doggett who shot, on the turn, from the mid slot for a last gasp equaliser and overtime (Second assist: JJ Piccinich). (2-2)
OVERTIME
Leading off with Slater Doggett, Ben Lake and Cam Knight, Belfast had the lion’s share of possession and zone time as five minutes of 3 on 3 overtime progressed, but could not find a way past Flyers’ goalie Shane Owen.
SHOOTOUT
Goals from Scott Conway and David Goodwin set up Jackson Whistle with the chance at victory, facing down against Flyers forward Tommi Jokinen.
The Fin charged into the zone and went in-close on the Giants’ goalie but was denied low as Belfast clinched the second point.
UP NEXT
The Belfast Giants return home to The SSE Arena, Belfast for a rematch with the Fife Flyers next Saturday 19 February at 7:00pm. With the title race hotting up, this is a game not to be missed! Tickets are on sale HERE.
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