Giants lose their second in a row by the smallest of margins

by UK American Sports Fans

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The Giants haven’t lost two games on the trot since the beginning of November losing to Braehead Clan and Coventry both by the score of 4-1.

The Challenge Cup is a trophy Belfast want to wrestle free from the hands of the Nottingham Panthers but first they have to get past the Devils who also would dearly love to place the cup in their trophy case.

All those predictions that saw the clash between Devils and Giants going all the way to the final minutes of the 2nd leg, look like coming true after the very tight opening game of the semi-final.

The Devils squeaked clear in the opening leg by the odd goal in three leaving this one certainly going to plan.

The Devils had the better of the play in the opening period and they went ahead at 8.06 on the power play with Phil Hill firing in his 19th goal of the season. There were chances at either end of the big blue tent in the opening twenty minutes. However, the goal judge’s light only lit once leaving Cardiff a goal ahead at 1-0

Belfast got the better of the home team in the middle stanza by out shooting their hosts by 15 to 9 but couldn’t beat Stevie Lyle between the Devils’ posts.

Early in the final period Cardiff’s player/coach Garad Adams put the Devils 2-0 ahead with only his 3rd goal of the season.

But just when Cardiff looked like quelling Belfast the resilient Giants didn’t panic and at 49.04 pulled themselves right back into the tie when Robert Dowd scored on the power play for his 19th of the season.

The Giants finished stronger but there was to be no addition to the score sheet thus leaving the tie perfectly poised for the return in Belfast on February 5th  in a Challenge Cup and Elite game combined encounter. The Giants stay in the UK travelling up to Braehead then Fife for two Scottish encounters this weekend.

I’m sure Coach Doug Christiansen will be aware of their 4-1 loss to the Clan back in November and wouldn’t allow the third loss in a row to hinder the Giants Rapid Solicitor Elite League title challenge.