The Stena Line Belfast Giants couldn’t complete a double-header of wins in Scotland as they had to settle for a point after falling in a shoot-out to the Glasgow Clan, losing 2-1 at the Braehead Arena on Sunday evening.
Pierre-Olivier Morin’s third-period goal earned Adam Keefe’s side one point, but they couldn’t find a way to unlock Clan netminder Landon Bow in the shoot-out, while the Scots scored four of their five shots to earn the extra point on offer.
First period
A fast start from the Clan led to dangerman Deven Sideroff testing Tom McCollum, but his shot was easily saved. Still, once the Giants got a foothold, they got some quality shots in on Bow, Morin and Grant Mismash, seeing opportunities turned away by the Glasgow netminder.
As the period wore on, the Giants began to up the tempo, and the shot count began to be more weighted in favour of the visitors, with Jordan Kawaguchi nearly beating Bow over his glove side before David Goodwin had a strong shot blocked by the Clan goaltender.
Rylan Schwartz was the next to test McCollum as he walked in from the left circle and fired towards the net but couldn’t beat the goalie, and an interference penalty on Mismash late in the period led to Tyson McLellan having an effort from the left circle that was steered wide by McCollum.
Second period
The Giants began the second period by killing off the remainder of Mismash’s penalty before heading on another kill when Morin was called for tripping shortly after McCollum made another big stop, this time as Cole Ully managed to get the tip on a long-range shot in front.
In a period low on chances, both teams had one golden opportunity to break the deadlock as McCollum made a massive glove save on Ully when the home side fashioned a 2-on-0 chance, while at the other end JJ Piccinich was inches away from scoring when he was set up by Scott Conway.
Third period
An early penalty to Joe Hazeldine for high-sticking gave the Giants the powerplay but they couldn’t connect. Instead, Glasgow took the lead at 45:00 when Deven Sideroff swept home a loose puck at the crease (1-0), only for Morin to level things just 53 seconds later when he tapped in Bobo Carpenter’s perfect back door pass (1-1).
The chances kept coming for the Giants as Conway fired just wide from in the slot, and then a holding penalty on Tyson McLellan gave the visitors the powerplay, but once more, they couldn’t find a way through, with McCollum making a sharp stop on Mitchell Heard in tight to take it to overtime.
Overtime
The Giants had a massive chance to win the game in the extra period when Simon Despres was penalised for tripping, but despite having the extra man, they couldn’t find a way through; the Clan made some selfless blocks in front to keep the game alive, and it would need to go to a shoot-out.
Shoot-out
And it would be Glasgow who would triumph as Heard, Ully, Sideroff and Liam Finlay all found the net, meaning Bow’s saves on Mismash and Conway were enough to earn them the extra point (2-1).
UP NEXT
The Belfast Giants will continue on the road next weekend against the Cardiff Devils on Friday 21st March before returning home to The SSE Arena on Sunday 23rd March, to face Guildford Flames. Tickets are available here.
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