The Belfast Giants halted their losing run in all competitions at four games with an emphatic 6-0 Challenge Cup victory over the Fife Flyers at The SSE Arena on Sunday.
First Period
After Reid Irwin had an early effort held, the SSE Arena held its collective breath as a Giants attack broke down allowing Ethan Somoza to bear down on Jackson Whistle. However, the Giants number one held firm and repelled the Fife forward. That would prove to be crucial for the hosts as they broke away themselves and Scott Conway ripped one bar down past Christian Purboo.(1-0). The Flyers would have another gilt-edged chance to open their account but captain Garet Hunt slid wide with an empty cage at his mercy.
Once again, the Giants would punish this lack of finishing as, this time, it was Jordan Kawaguchi who finished superbly past Purboo. The British Columbian teased a pass to Patrick Grasso but, instead, rifled home to double Belfast’s lead (2-0)
Conway was in the mood and got his second in the opening stanza as he put the finishing touches on a scramble in front of the Flyers’ net as the hosts began to open a nice lead. (3-0). Kawaguchi almost matched his number 10’s scoring pace but chipped over the bar before Grasso had a one-timer saved after some beautiful build-up play. The visitors finished the period down a man after Hunt was sat down for unsportsmanlike conduct as Adam Keefe’s men went into the locker rooms three goals and one man to the good.
Second Period
Jake Gaudet sprung a chance on the break to begin the second but was well stopped by Purboo before Bo Hanson and Ben Lake also came close to extending the lead. Having survived the early home onslaught, the Flyers came out with a pair of good chances themselves. Keaton Jameson and Somoza were both stopped by Whistle before any momentum was stalled by a raft of penalties. Two of them went the way of Josh Winquist and it was during his first visit to the penalty box that the hosts took advantage.
It was another bar down finish but from JJ Piccinich this time as the New Jersey native rifled home from the left hash marks from Mike Lee’s set-up. (4-0). Andrew McLean was also called for tripping but the closest Belfast could come was a Sam Jones tip into the midriff of Purboo as the hosts went into the second intermission ahead by four.
Third Period
The SSE Arena was echoing with the sound of rubber on metal shortly after the restart when Ciaran Long struck the crossbar. At the other end, Jameson fizzed one just higher while Ethan Hadden saw his effort tipped into screen. As was the case for most of the evening, the Giants capitalised on their chances where Fife could not and, after a few foiled efforts, Grasso got his goal with a back post tap in. (5-0)
Penalties would haunt the Flyers yet again as it was their captain Hunt who was sat down for slashing and Ryan Smith took advantage of a lovely delivery by Eriksson to give Purboo no chance (6-0). The night was sealed in style as Whistle recorded a second home shutout over the men from Kirkcaldy this season with a late save to deny former Giant Mason Alderson clinching it.
Up Next
These two will meet again at The SSE Arena next Saturday (18th October) in what will be the Belfast Giants’ first Elite League game of the season. Before that, though, Adam Keefe’s men will round off their Champions Hockey League campaign by welcoming Swedish side Brynas IF to Belfast on Tuesday evening. Both of these games are 7pm starts and you can grab tickets here.
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