GIANTS BO FOR TOP SEEDING AFTER CUP WIN AT CLAN

The Stena Line Belfast Giants moved closer to securing top seeding for the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup as they claimed a 1-3 victory over the Glasgow Clan in their rearranged group stage game at Braehead Arena.

Strikes from Bobo Carpenter and Scott Conway, and a first professional goal for defenceman Zak Galambos, helped Adam Keefe’s men to the two points in Scotland, with netminder Jackson Whistle turning in a stellar 30-save performance in the victory.

First period

Glasgow had an early chance to take the lead as a holding penalty on Karl Boudrias put them on the powerplay just over two minutes in, but the Giants did well to rally and kill it off, and the visitors’ first chance came through a deflected effort from Cameron Pound that just dribbled wide of Landon Bow’s net.

A double high-sticking minor on Simon Després gave the Giants a big chance to break the deadlock, however it was nearly the Clan who got the first goal shorthanded as Nick Prkusic pinched the puck in the Belfast zone but flicked the puck over the net when faced by Whistle, and a high-sticking penalty on Pierre-Olivier Morin exactly halfway through the two penalties ended the powerplay.

The Giants would end the period in the ascendancy, however, aided by a slashing call against Félix Paré, and after Grant Mismash and Carpenter both came close to opening the scoring on the man advantage, Clan netminder Bow had to scramble to prevent Kyle Osterberg from forcing in the rebound from Mark Cooper’s initial effort just before the buzzer.

Second period

Whistle had to be alert early in the middle period as Tyson McLellan drove a pass to the crease for Liam Finlay to get a touch on but the netminder got his pad down to stop the effort right at the line, but instead it was the Giants who took the lead on the powerplay at 27:52 as a tripping call against Michael Pelech allowed Carpenter to force the puck in from close range after being found at the crease by Jordan Kawaguchi (0-1).

Mitchell Heard really should have tied the game on a Jeff Baum cross-checking penalty shortly after, found at the back post but somehow poking wide with the net gaping, and Galambos made them pay at 32:53 with a stunning top corner finish for his first professional goal, ripping it over Bow’s glove side after good work behind the net by JJ Piccinich and Scott Conway (0-2).

Ben Lake had a glorious chance to add on as Cooper went behind the net and fed the puck back in front for the centreman in the slot, but Bow did well to smother the shot, with Whistle similarly alert to pad away a Cole Ully effort as the seconds ticked down to ensure the lead would be two at the intermission.

Third period

Although Belfast started the period well, once again it was Whistle called into action first as he had to produce a perfectly timed poke check to deny Rylan Schwartz in close, while a cross-checking penalty to Cole Ully nearly saw Carpenter get his second as he tipped a Gabe Bast shot and then nearly converted the rebound himself.

The Clan would make it a one-goal game at 46:46, though, as Matt Stief got them on the board with a strike from the blue-line that went all the way through traffic and found the net (1-2) and the Giants had to weather a wave of Clan pressure in the aftermath before they put the game to bed.

Conway got them their two-goal lead back as he struck on the powerplay, Darien Kielb penalised for boarding and Elijiah Barriga and Piccinich combining to set up the centre for the one-time finish from the right circle at 52:13 (1-3) and Keefe’s men were able to close out the game in comfort, even with the Clan pulling Bow for the extra skater.

Next up

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants conclude their Challenge Cup group campaign when they take on the Fife Flyers at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Saturday 16 November, followed by a rematch with the Clan on home ice on Sunday 17 November, this time in the Elite League. Tickets are on sale now and available to purchase here.