Giants cut one of last threads to Coventry’s title hopes
In the start of a two game double hitter against Paul Thompson’s Coventry Blaze outfit the home team proved again to be the comeback kids.
Paul Deniset, the Giants new signing, took to the ice after just one practice after coming fresh from North America. Yet again Belfast started on the back foot to a Coventry goal from Matic Kralj on a Blaze powerplay with just over six minutes played on the game clock.
That gave the visitors confidence as they piled on the pressure but the Giants rose to the challenge with Robert Dowd levelling the score. The Blaze’s Shea Guthrie put the visitors back in the lead only to find Belfast’s man of the match Dowd tying up the scoreboard at two apiece with just two minutes left to play in a very exciting opening period.
Everyone in the Odyssey Arena including the players needed the time to take a breath and boy did they ever need it. The middle period featured a very cat and mouse type of action with Belfast applying slightly more effort resulting in their go ahead score coming from Jon Pelle to put the home team in the lead.
In a bizarre call referee Michael Hicks gave the Giants a penalty shot after spotting a Coventry player in the Coventry goal crease using a broken stick to clear the puck, hence the call.
Jon Pelle took the puck at centre ice and knew what he wanted to do. However Peter Hirsch, the Blaze puck stopper out thought the Belfast goal ace nullifying the opportunity. That didn’t stop the Giants charge as they continued to mount increasing pressure resulting eventually in another score from Aaron Clark early in the third period.
With the score line 4-2 the Belfast fans hoped the game was in the bag, being done and dusted, however Coventry had other plans. Hirsch’s heroics just seemed to intensify the Blaze’s resolve to take something from the game. It eventually paid off with Robert Farmer netting the visitors third goal making it game on again at 4-3 Giants.
That’s when the final fling took place with Coach Thompson throwing caution to the wind by taking Hirsch off for and extra Blaze attacker. Now there were bodies everywhere in front of Stephen Murphy’s Belfast net as the Giants did everything possible to stop Coventry from netting the equalizer.
Just to clear the puck was a Giant’s achievement. The Blaze players knew this was going to be one of their last hopes in their quest to the Elite League trophy by starting a winning roll by defeating the Elite League leaders Belfast in the Odyssey Arena.
Coventry huffed and puffed and nearly found the winning shot but somehow Murphy stopped the puck resting in the back of the Belfast net. With just sixty-two seconds remaining on the game clock Adam Keefe found himself in the neutral zone with the puck. Not having to think long what to do next as he simply fired it home to end the contest scoring in the empty net.
It was a tight game that really could have gone either way. Coach Thompson stated after the game.
“David Phillips will have to take the responsibility for coughing up the puck resulting in the Giants go ahead goal. Our man of the match, British born and trained Robert Farmer out played most of our import players and rightly was rewarded with his award. We had the chances but didn’t take them. When you play a quality team like Belfast, you have to score on your opportunities or you’ll loss.
We didn’t hence we lost!”
Belfast coach Doug Christiansen said. Following the match.
“Any time you can take a win over Coventry you take it anyway you can. I think Paul Deniset will get better every game he plays and we are still looking for another import to sign before the cut off date.
If we can’t find what we are looking for I can live comfortably with what we have on our squad now with George Awada as our injury reserve player on hand should we need him. It’s right back to action Saturday night when I’m sure Coventry will try and come up with a new plan to beat us at home.
If we can be successful again I think this would end Coventry’s title hopes for this season”.
The only other Friday night game was Cardiff playing Dundee Stars with the Devils winning 3-1. That result didn’t favour the Blaze as Cardiff are closing in on fourth place with the Giants now five points clear of Nottingham in second, together with third place Sheffield Steelers now holding six games in hand over Elite League leading Belfast.
Should the Steelers be able to win all the games in hand they could overtake the Giants. However it has to be stated they have to play Belfast four times yet this season, two away and two at home. It still anyone from the top three of the Elite League’s standings to lift the title Trophy.
