Giants decimate Capitals over a winning weekend

The Continental Cup adventures have finished with the Giants ambitions nearly fulfilled. Certainly as enjoyable as it all was, now the main business of the season remains focused on repeating the Elite League championship this campaign plus other cups as well.

Earlier in the season words like three out of four points being acceptable after a weekend play seemed to sum up the Giants thoughts after their various encounter were reviewed. With the multitudes of Christmas period games fast approaching the tune has changed dramatically.

After a weekend played out against two Scottish outfits, it’s now four from the four points available – the only result Belfast could, or better put would accept. As usual it was a hard battle in Dundee, where former Giants sharp shooter Jeff Hutchins is now in charge. He stated: “I was despondent but still determined .The schedule doesn’t get any easier in the coming weeks so hopefully we can rest up and regroup and get guys fit and healthy for the coming games. The guys feel as bad as I do but we must ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

The game itself was double joy for the Giants as this league and Challenge Cup match in the Tayside rink saw Belfast stay top in the league standings and guarantee top spot in Challenge Cup Group A.

Mark Garside led Belfast with two goals to take their third win from five straight road games but for Stars it has not been a good few days, with this their third loss on the bounce.

Giants took control of the game in the second period, scoring three in a row from Andrew Fournier, Garside, and Jeff Mason to see them lead 4-1. In the final period saw no let up with Craig Peacock netting on a shorthanded situation to knock all of the stuffing out of Stars.

So from the Stars away to the Capitals back in the Odyssey Arena where the Giants had been absent for three weeks.

Edinburgh seemed to be full of vim and vigour in the early stages. However after the third goal, the Capitals seemed to fall apart. Two goals from Sam Roberts and Noah Clarke lead the way with singles from Jeff Mason, Mark Garside, Greg Stewart, and Craig Peacock and finally Darryl Lloyd did all the damage.

Stephen Murphy had an early shower after two periods of shutout hockey with Andrew Dickson only once getting caught out with a misdirected shot by Peter Holecko to spoil his outcome.

Belfast Coach Doug Christiansen, together with the Giants players, had Sunday off after their 9-1 victory to gear up for the Nottingham Panthers encounter this Friday night in ‘Fortress Odyssey’.

Talking to Jock Hay, the Capitals assistant coach, after the game, he stated their starting goalie had re-injured his puck catching glove hand in practice on Thursday and didn’t make the trip.

Christiansen was right in saying every team in the Elite League can surprise you especially the Capitals at the bottom of the league.

On Sunday night the Capitals led the Sheffield Steelers until late in the game 2-1 and only a penalty to Jock’s son Neil Hay late in the game saw the Steelers score two powerplay goals to take the two points, 2-3.