Giants mean business after back to back shutouts
Surely Belfast have taken giant steps toward to Rapid Solicitors Elite League title after their thirteen to nil goal output last weekend. First up was the depleted Hull Stingray outfit in which the visiting Giants took no chances outshooting their opponents 73 to 30 whilst scoring an 8-0 shutout victory on the way.
The winner came just after the halfway mark in the opening period from the Giants leading scorer Robert Dowd that after a thirty-one shot opening period from Belfast. In the middle stanza the Giants got back to work scoring first from Jon Pelle, then Jeremy Rebek on a power play effort, followed by Craig Peacock.
Belfast seemingly holding the Midas touch continued in the final period netting from Adam Keefe, Robert Dowd, and Jeff Mason with the final goal coming from Aaron Clarke.
Both backup goalies saw action with Andy Brummitt for Hull and Andrew Dickson for the Giants putting in a creditable performance with Stephen Murphy being awarded the shutout.
Then Belfast traveled to Coventry to take on the Blaze who have twice fared well against the Giants this season. The Blaze looked to play the spoiler in the league title aspirations of the Giants. The last time these two teams met in Coventry it was the Blaze that won easily, skating to a 4-1 victory.
Giants Captain Jeremy Rebek had this to say about the up last weekend’s play. “We aren’t looking past Hull right now, that is the game we are focusing on. We know that we have two battles on our hands this weekend and we know that both teams want to take points off of us for different reasons”.
“The interesting thing about the standings right now is that nearly every team is in its own battle for positioning in the league standings, Hull want to remain in 7th and Coventry have made it very clear they are battling to get to 4th in the standings”.
“They are looking for wins this weekend and we just have to play the game we know we are capable of and continue to take advantage of our opportunities.” Concluded the Giant’s Captain
Well the Giants did just that by completed a memorable weekend on the road by picking up their second shutout in two nights with this comprehensive success over struggling Blaze. Giant’s puck stopper, Stephen Murphy, played the full 60 minutes and posted 22 saves while British Players, Craig Peacock and Robert Dowd, both scoring twice for the impressive visitors.
It’s now five straight losses for Blaze but ten wins in a row for Doug Christiansen’s men, who continue to enjoy a seven-point lead at the top of the standings. In the past the Giants were accused on not taking advantage of their power plays advantages but Craig Peacock was on the mark on the power play effort just under the four minute mark as the visitors enjoyed a 14 to 5 open period advantage on their shot count.
A similar story in the second period with Giants took control with two further strikes coming from skipper Jeremy Rebek another power play effort followed by Robert Dowd giving the visitor’s a three goal cushion at 3-0. Belfast’s favorite local hero Graeme Walton missed a penalty shot midway through the middle stanza but all was not lost.
The home team Coventry just couldn’t get on track in the final period as yet again it was Belfast finishing the scoring easing their way to victory with further goals coming again from Dowd and Peacock to end as impressive a weekend as you will get in the EIHL.
With Stephen Murphy gaining his second shutout of the weekend after stopping all twenty-two shots from the Blaze it appears that Coventry couldn’t throw a spanner into the Belfast works by delaying the hard charges Giants to Championship status. In the past the Blaze has proved to be the Giants stumbling block but not this year that is up to now anyway.
So the Giants take on one of their biggest rivals Sheffield Steelers away on Friday night before travelling home to the Odyssey Arena to face Braehead Clan who did the Giants a big favor in beating the Steelers 2-1 last week.
Sheffield’s Player/coach, Ryan Finnerty had this to say, “To bounce back the way we did after Friday’s defeat in Braehead was important. We played well in Fife and came from behind in a real dogfight. In Edinburgh the game was different, as we were in control from the get go. We dominated possession and took our chances well. Geoff Woolhouse our backup goalie did a great job in goal but up front we were clinical and we needed a night like that ahead of the big game with Belfast next Friday
“We had goals from all of the unit’s tonight. That is important too. I’m hoping that little spell we had when we struggled up front is behind us as the next two weeks will determine so much, where the title goes, what playoff pairings. It’s important we control our own destiny”
