Belfast Giants 8 Edinburgh Capitals 1

Three goals in less than three minutes in the second period saw Belfast double their lead to take the points against the Capitals. This win and Sheffield’s loss in Cardiff saw the Irish team go top in the league standings.

The Giants took the initiative as Brock McBride fired the home side in front at 5.23 on the powerplay. Despite having most of the pressure, it took them until 15.46 before they doubled their lead with a goal from Robert Dowd.

Belfast made it three and easy early in the second period as Derek LeBlanc got the third on the board at 22.06. The home support then had to wait until the last five minutes of the period to see the next goal as Benoit Doucet scored at 35.31 on a delayed penalty call. The Giants then went nap with a Ryan Crane goal at 37.01. James Hutchinson fired home less than a minute later for goal number six at 38.10.

A second goal of the game on the powerplay from Robert Dowd at 50.17 put the Giants into seventh heaven. The Capitals got on the board at 53.22 with a goal from Rene Jarolin on a delayed penalty to deny Stephen Murphy his shut out. Despite the visitors getting this goal, the home side did not let up and Adam Keefe got the Giants eighth and final goal of the night at 56.16.

Period Scores: 2-0, 4-0, 2-1
Penalty Mins: Bel 6 – Edi 10
Powerplay: Bel 2/5 – Edi 0/3
Shots On: Stephen Murphy 17 / Andrew Dickson 1  – Nathan Craze 53

Referee: Moray Hanson