Will the real Belfast please stand up?

What a week the Stena Line Belfast Giants had to endure as the long awaited clash for the first leg of the Challenge Cup ended much the same as last season’s outcome – with the Panthers devouring the Giants 5-1 without that much difficulty, thus making the second leg in Belfast – Nottingham’s game to lose rather than the other way around.

The Giants were, to a man, gutted, yet the good news was that they faced a double hitter against Coventry in ‘Fortress Odyssey’ over the weekend whom they have owned most of the season.

Coventry’s coach Paul Thompson commented that their aim this season was to capture fourth place. That the Blaze were starting to believe in themselves now with a full bench and that the team’s season long injury crisis was finally coming to an end. Belfast’s opponents arrived in Belfast following a first conference win in nine as they move to within a point of league fourth placed Cardiff.

Playing in pink (in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness in the Odyssey Arena) the Giants bump started the game through Darryl Lloyd scoring after just 79 seconds. A brief glimmer of hope flickered for the Belfast fans though this was the only time they were to see the puck behind Peter Hirsch in Coventry’s goal mouth in the opening stanza.

Derek Campbell, who proved to be a thorn in Belfast’s side all weekend tied the game up with just over four minutes left to play in the opener. In the second period Belfast came out with lots of huff and puff but it was the Blaze doing the scoring.

The first was scored by Brad Leeb then Adam Henrich, which saw Coventry go two goals clear. The Giants’ Noah Clarke pulled one back for Belfast and they looked like starting a famous comeback. However sadly for their fans it was short lived and the final say was from my ‘Man of the Match’ Adam Henrich who scored into the empty net in the dying seconds of the game to confirm the points, which were well, and truly in the hands of Paul Thompson’s men.

The drama did not end there as frustration boiled over with seven seconds remaining. Giant Robby Sandrock was allocated 5 plus game for spearing and Brad Leeb of the Blaze (game) as both were sent to the showers early.

After two defeats in a row with lopsided losses, coach Doug Christiansen had to do something to inspire his charges. The result on Saturday night was an action packed encounter from start to finish and was filled with physical battles with end-to-end action for the duration.

Giants’ Noah Clarke nudged Belfast in front before Adam Henrich tied the game up with his seventh goal in just six games and that leveled towards the end of the first period.

Just when the Giants fans were thinking of between period refreshments Belfast netted two goals inside 18 seconds from Matt Towe and new signing Chad Langlais putting the home team 3-1 up.

And still not over, the first of many shows of testosterone saw Blaze defenseman Benn Olson and Adam Keefe slug it out in the last minute of the first period remaining.

In the second period Coventry came right back through Dustin Cameron who pulled a goal back for Blaze ending the scoring in the period at 3-2 and every thing to play for.

If one fight is good, then two must be better, as this time Keefe and Coventry’s Mike Egener began to rumba or was that rumble much to the delight of their fans.

Again two rapid-fire scores changed the game’s balance coming from Gareth Roberts then Craig Peacock, and saw the Giants move 5-2 ahead.

The action was ongoing right up to the end with Benn Olson being ejected from the game for slashing before Giants netted three powerplay strikes in the final three minutes – two from Daymen Rycroft and the final from Langlais.

Coventry Coach Paul Thompson said: “I am as mad as I have ever been. We took stupid, selfish, immature penalties. I am absolutely furious.

“We should have been up after two periods we had enough chances. We had some gilt-edged opportunities and their goalie made some unbelievable saves.

“But we gave up a couple of goals and we started taking some stupid penalties. We showed last night after the Blaze beat Giants 5-2, that if we stay disciplined and play smart, we are a tough hockey team to beat. We embarrassed ourselves tonight.” concluded a frustrated Thompson.

After the 8-2 victory Coach Doug Christiansen was asked what had he said to his players to effect the turn around: “In reality nothing as the players decided they wanted to play, and play they did – that was the reality of the situation.

“Every time this team has had its back against the wall they have responded. When we play as we did tonight the Giants are a really good hockey team and a real contender for the title.

“We are looking forward to the Dundee game away Thursday night before entertaining Sheffield at home next Saturday night in the Odyssey Arena then a trip to the big blue tent in Cardiff to face the Devils on Sunday night.

“After that week of play we could be in a really good spot and that is where we want to be. Although I’m not pleased with the previous two results I’m more than pleased with our win over Coventry where we worked hard from the first drop of the puck to secure a win.” concluded Christiansen.