Five-star Sunday as Whistle shuts out Clan

The Belfast Giants returned to winning ways with a 5-0 home win over the Glasgow Clan on Sunday afternoon.

First Period

The Clan had the first real attempt of the game through Miihkali Teppo as he zipped one wide, but when the Giants got their first opportunity, they took full advantage. With Alex Forbes sitting for a slashing penalty, Brandon Whistle scored his third goal in as many games as he positioned himself perfectly at Lucas Brine’s near post to squeeze the puck home (1-0)

The Clan did not wilt and had further chances through Joe Hazeldine and Robert Lachowicz. However, the hosts started to take control of proceedings and shots rained down on Brine’s net. The best of these came from Ryan Smith and Karl Boudrias who linked up well with his defensive partner Mike Lee before testing the Glasgow goalie.

Jackson Whistle was forced into a superb save from straight in front from a Rylan Schwartz effort and that proved to be crucial as the hosts went up the other end almost immediately and doubled their lead. It was Ciaran Long who put the finishing touches on the move with Carter Hamill grabbing the assist. (2-0)

The celebrations had barely died down from that one when David Goodwin tipped home a Josh Roach pass to make it three and give the Saskatchewan-born D-man his first point of the season after returning from injury on Friday night. (3-0)

Second Period

After Brady Risk had spurned a golden opportunity to get his side back into proceedings, the Giants killed a penalty served by Lee for hooking with minimal fuss. In fact, he sprang straight out of the box and almost set up Scott Conway for a one-timer. Conway would not have to wait long for his goal though after he prodded home an airborne puck after Lee had deflected a Roach shot (4-0)

Despite this, Whistle in the home goal was still being worked with Austin Mitchell-King and Lachowicz both forcing good stops from the Giants number one before Conway tried again with a back-handed effort that was stopped by Brine.

It looked as though Brine had kept the hosts at bay whenever a scrambled ensued in the blue paint but, when the dust settled, Boudrias was wheeling away in celebration as the Quebec-born defenceman managed to force the puck over the line for a fifth before the second intermission. (5-0) 

Third Period

Adam Keefe’s men very much had the game in their control entering the final stanza, but they continued to push for more goals. Gabe Bast was on a one-man mission to get one as he Alberta-born defenceman had no fewer than three shots on goal but none of them ended in the back of the net.

Brandon Whistle was brimming with confidence and his beautiful drop pass to Ben Lake embodied that, but Brine denied them a sixth. The other Whistle brother was determined to keep his shutout intact and made a great stop from Colton Poolman before Brett Neumann rippled the side netting. Goodwin had a late chance on the breakaway that was repelled but the job had been done on home ice.

UP NEXT

The Belfast Giants continue their Elite League campaign, taking on the Fife Flyers at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Saturday 7 February. Tickets are on sale now and available to purchase here.