BELFAST GIANTS END CHL CAMPAIGN ON A HIGH

The Belfast Giants rounded off their Champions Hockey League campaign in style with a 2-1 home win over Swedish giants Brynäs IF at The SSE Arena.

First Period

Brynas had the first chance of the night as Jack Kopacka slid wide after being gifted a chance by Mike Lee’s stick shattering. Leo Sundqvist then tested Alexis Gravel in goal with a vicious shot on the turn, but the Giants stopper held on. The hosts then had their first chance when Karl Boudrias flashed wide before Mattias Norlinder and Axel Jonsson-Fjällby came close with the latter rattling the post.

Despite this, it was the hosts who had the puck in the net first through Boudrias after being teed up nicely by JJ Piccinich. However, the celebrations were short-lived as the effort was ruled out for goalie interference. However, Adam Keefe’s men would indeed go into the first intermission ahead as Ryan Smith tipped Marcus Eriksson’s shot past Collin Delia in the Brynas goal for his third consecutive game with a goal. (1-0).

Second Period

After a clean first period, Belfast took the first penalty of the night just 14 seconds after the interval with Scott Conway sat down for slashing. The Swedish visitors took full advantage with their CHL top scorer Lucas Pettersson tying up proceedings (1-1).

Suddenly, the penalties were coming thick and fast for both sides with Aron Dahlqvist the next to be sent to the box for holding. While he was there, Adam Keefe’s men had two great chances to retake the lead with Jordan Kawaguchi first rattling the crossbar before Mike Lee’s vicious shot on the turn was well held by Delia.

With Garrett McFadden then penalised for tripping, Gravel did superbly to cling on to Michal Svrcek’s shot while Smith came close to his second but was repelled again by the Brynäs net-minder as we went into the second intermission locked at one.   

Third Period

Much like the second period, the third period sprang into life with Nicolas Guay’s goal retaking the home lead. He latched on to Piccinich’s pass and showed some lovely hands to finish coolly past Delia. (2-1). Smith came close again but he just couldn’t get enough of a touch on Conway’s pass to redirect it goal bound.

The Brynäs onslaught was to be expected, and it arrived but not before McFadden rattled the bar as Belfast rode the wave. Gravel was having an excellent night between the pipes and the Quebec-born stopper denied Kopacka and Kieffer Bellows. Dahlqvist then struck the post as the Giants rear-guard was creaking but, crucially, it did not break. This is despite a late penalty against Jake Gaudet and Bellows hitting the upright not once but twice inside the last 60 seconds.

Ultimately, the Giants held on for a morale-boosting win over the side who were SHL finalists last season and have qualified for the next stage of the CHL.  

Up Next

With European action now complete, Adam Keefe’s men will get their Elite League defence started this weekend with a home and away double-header against Fife Flyers. The first of those games is at home on Saturday 18 October with a 7pm puck drop. You