Photos: Andy Gibson
The Stena Line Belfast Giants’ new signing David Rutherford scored the winning penalty shot as the home side climbed to fourth in the Elite League standings with a 2-1 win over the Coventry Blaze. The Giants were without defencemen Jeff Mason and Matt Nickerson through injury as Mark Garside filled in on the blueline.
The game was only 3:31 old when the Coventry Blaze opened the scoring as their new signing Brenden Walker fired a wrist shot low into the corner of the Giants net. However following the Blaze’s goal, it was mostly one way traffic as the Giants outshot the visitors 43-19 overall. Though Brian Stewart stood tall in the Blaze net, turning away shot after the shot as the Giants went to work on the powerplay in the opening period.
The hosts pressure told at 28:21 as Brandon Benedict scored on the powerplay, assisted by David Rutherford and Derrick Walser, to pull the Giants level in the second period.
A physical third period followed as both sides battled for a valuable second goal – however none was to come and the game went to overtime and then, a shootout. Stephen Murphy denied all three of the Blaze shooters, Fisher, Trimm and Lauzon with David Rutherford pulling a nice move and scoring on the Giants second shot to give the home side the two points on the first night of back to back games in Belfast against the Blaze. Face-Off on Saturday night is 7pm.
Final Score:
Stena Line Belfast Giants 2-1 Coventry Blaze (After Penalty Shots)
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