Belfast dowse the Blaze but it was so close…
The Giants opened as they meant to continue from the previous night by scoring three unanswered goals all within the first twelve minutes. Netting were Darryl Lloyd, Jeremy Rebek then Robert Dowd.
The Giants’ fans thought the game was done and dusted but Coventry Coach Paul Thompson called a time out and told the players what he thought of them. Inspirational or what? What happened next? Well Coventry scored three unanswered goals of their own all before the end of the period to tie the game up at 3-3.
The period ended with players, fans, coaches and even hotdog sellers all needing a break from the extraordinary first twenty minutes of play. Both coaches knew the next goal was critical. The ferocity of the game boiled over with the Giants’ Adam Keefe and Coventry’s Bryan Jurynec contesting a light heavy weight bout that seemed to go on for a full round.
Fans, players and anyone else watching were inspired by the encounter which seemed to raise the visitor’s game to fever pitch. Try as they may to level up the score with the extra attacker after Hirsch was withdrawn sadly Coventry couldn’t score that goal leaving Belfast the winner by the odd goal in seven.
After the game Paul Thompson said, “We had our chances and didn’t take them. Belfast did and they won. I’m gutted to go back to England with nothing from these two games”.
Coach Doug Christiansen smiling like the cat that just swallowed the golden mouse commented. “Their title chances were hanging by two threads coming here. I think we cut both threads ands ends their aspiration for the Elite League title this season. Now the Blaze has to start preparing for the playoffs in March.
Next weekend we lay two more games at home against Edinburgh and Nottingham, which are at two differing ends of the league table. We just have to find a way to keep winning. Yes we are still looking for another goal ace but if we can’t find exactly what were looking for I’m more than happy with the team we got with George Awada waiting in the wings as injury cover” concluded Christiansen.