Full speed ahead for Giants towards EIHL Playoffs

The Stena Line Belfast Giants have finally got there! They are now preparing for the Rapid Solicitors Elite League Playoff Finals in Nottingham this coming weekend.

It is hard to think how their opponents, Edinburgh Capitals have improved so much from the outfit they beat 9-1 in the beginning of 2013. The Giants’ quarter final, two legged contest, that some in the know knew was going to be a very tight encounter was in fact even tighter than could have been predicted.

The Belfast squad secured their place in the Final Four weekend with a thrilling victory in the Scottish Capital. Edinburgh narrowed the gap to within one goal on aggregate when Brent Patry scored in the opening period thus putting real stress on Doug Christiansen’s team.

However in the second period the Giants told a different story after a couple of quick goals to calm their jumpy nerves. Yet the Kevin Patry, shorthanded goal in the opening period gave the Belfast visitors self doubt to deal with as well as the diminishing aggregate goal advantage.

However if the Giants were rattled they did not show it, coming out strong in the second period scoring through Noah Clarke and Kevin Saurette to take charge of the tie once more.

Never say die Capitals did give themselves some hope when Marcis Zembergs scored a second shorthanded goal for his squad late in the second period.

In the end Colin Shields secured the victory for Belfast with an insurance goal effectively ending the Capitals’ chances. Michael Dobron did pull one back on the powerplay with five minutes left to play.

It proved too little too late as the scoring was completed when Giant Saurette shot into the empty net with just thirty three seconds of regulation time remaining to give his side the 4-3 win on the night and in the tie a 7-4 overall score line.

On Easter week-end it was all set up with the opening quarter-final victory for the Giants on their home ice in a tense come from behind, hard fought contest. Despite going behind the Giants went on to net three scores without reply to take a two-goal advantage to the Capitals.

After an even first period that could have gone either way the teams went in at the first break level with neither of them finding the net. Capitals’ Peter Holecko scored on the powerplay, which quieted the home crowd to a whisper.

Midway through the second period Craig Peacock restored equality at 1-1 and the fans and the Giants seized on the moment. As the home crowd’s support rose noticeably the Giants’ pressure and determination grew too with each minute of play.

Giants Daymen Rycroft’s score in the final period increased Belfast’s belief. Then David Phillips’ goal from the blue line off his slap shot gave the Giants a two-goal lead. This was how it remained and Belfast took a two-goal lead over the visitors.

Doug Christiansen stated after the weekend’s play: “I’ve always stated that the Capitals are a good hockey team and their sixth place finish after the conclusion of this campaign in the Elite League proved they are moving in the right direction.

“I thought all our players stepped it up a pace. Darryl Lloyd had his best game of the season on Saturday and Daymen Rycroft was simply awesome.

“On Sunday night’s winning game in Edinburgh Colin Shields, Kevin Saurette and Noah Clark were the icing on the Giants’ cake with their win. All the squad are now looking forward to challenging for the Elite League Playoff title,” concluded Christiansen.

Over these two legs Belfast had to battle all the way to secure both victories. So following their playoff quarter-final success against the Edinburgh Capitals the Giants now face Coventry Blaze early on Saturday night in Nottingham with a 5:00pm face-off in the second semi final of the day, following the afternoon clash between the Nottingham Panthers and the Cardiff Devils at 1:00pm.

The determined Coventry Blaze squad will be hoping to give departing Blaze coach Paul Thompson a win plus a possible further playoff championship for the outgoing coach who will be heading off to coach in Sweden. The Giants and Blaze faced each other eight times this season with the Giants winning the season series with six wins and only two losses.