The Stena Line Belfast Giants rounded off their Scottish road trip in style with a 3-1 victory over the Fife Flyers on Sunday evening thanks to a Darcy Murphy hattrick.
Murphy’s three goals came in all of the game periods with each strike arguably better than the last. This game will be remembered for the impressive performance from the Giants #15 in a man of the match display at the beginning of his second successive season in Belfast.
Sunday’s triumph in Fife followed Saturday’s 4-2 win vs Dundee Stars and sees the Giants sit top of Challenge Cup Group B with a 100% record.
Giants Start Well With In-form Murphy
For a second straight night it was the Giants who took the lead against their Scottish opponents. Darcy Murphy’s strike at 11:49, with assists to David Rutherford and Pat Dwyer, gave the visitors a deserved first period lead.
Later in the opening 20 minutes, Jonathan Boxill took exception to a late hit from Danick Gautier on David Rutherford and dropped the gloves with the Flyers forward.
Dominant Belfast And Murphy Double Their Tally
The away side continued to impress in the middle period, outshooting the Flyers 17-4.
At 32:20 Darcy Murphy posted his and his team’s second of the game when he finished well after a goalmouth scramble, assisted by Guillaume Gelinas.
Hattrick Hero Murphy Secures Weekend Double
With David Rutherford sitting out a two minute interference call, it was that man Murphy again who would pick up on a Flyers giveaway, skate the puck into the hosts zone and slot the puck cooly past Shane Owen in the Fife net.
Darcy Murphy’s hattrick goal came at 43:58, unassisted and shorthanded, as the Giants extended their lead yet again.
The Flyers ended the Giants shutout hopes with a late consolation at 54:19 as Scott Aarssen rifled the puck into the Giants net from the blueline, assisted by Carlo Finucci and Evan Stoflet.
Final Score:
Fife Flyers 1-3 Stena Line Belfast Giants
Giants Man of the Match:
#15 Darcy Murphy (3 Goals)
Next Up?
The Giants return to Belfast for their opening home games of the 2018/19 season. First up is the Dundee Stars on Friday 14th September and then vs Glasgow Clan on Saturday 15th September. Both games face-off 7pm and tickets are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ie.
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