Belfast blanket Stars 14-0 to move on to semi-finals

Stena Line Belfast Giants opened their two-legged quarterfinal contest against the latecomers of the Elite League playoffs.  Talking to the Dundee Stars players coach Brent Hughes before the weekends play he thought his team were just entering their top phase of the season playing some of the teams best hockey this campaign.

Well it was the day before April Fools Day so you couldn’t but the result down to a massive trick rather just good old fashion determination by the Giants showing their fans winning the league trophy was no fluke.

The Giants dominated Dundee by winning the first leg 5-0 in another great shutout victory in the Odyssey Arena on Saturday night. The Giants scored in every period never relinquished the continuing pressure they placed on their opposition that combined with Steven Murphy’s eighth shutout of the season was deceive.

Goals from five different Giants players showed anyone who might be wondering if the now 18 game Elite League winning streak was nearing its end.  Not forgetting the teams scoring race for top honors was still going on between Robert Dowd and Craig Peacock both tied on total team points before the playoffs.

Peacock picked up a short-handed goal and two assists where as Dowd scored on a Giants Power play. Jeff Mason scored the opening and winning goal with Jon Pelle and Mike Hoffman making Belfast dominance even more prevalent

The Giants with a five goal lead travelled back to Dundee for the second leg with Stars hoping for a major miracle or an April Fools trick.

The opening period proved the only miracle the Stars could think of was an early end to the one sided contest. The Giants just increased the pressure by scoring four times in the first twenty minutes thus putting the outcome beyond reach to any Dundee optimist

Aaron Clarke netted two with Craig Peacock and Mark Garside adding their names to the score list. Daryl Lloyd and Robert Dowd added their names to the growing list in the second period thus ensuring Belfast moves to win number 19 and the semi finals in Nottingham next weekend.

Elite League season shutout number nine for the Giants All Star goalie, Stephen Murphy, puts him on top form for the Cardiff Devil encounter in Nottingham for the Semi-Finals of the Rapid Solicitors Elite League.

The question now becomes a coaching dilemma for Doug Christiansen on who he sits for the upcoming semi-final. However Hull Stingrays seemingly played the April Fools trick on Sheffield in their two-legged victory over the highflying Steelers.

Hull made history to reach Final Four by producing the biggest shock in Elite League history as they reached the Final Four weekend following a fantastic 5-2 victory over the Steelers at Ice Sheffield.

Going into the game tied at 2-2 after the first leg in Hull, the Stingrays found the courage through determination and a great game plan to defeat Sheffield 7-4 on aggregate

The Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier said: “It is the biggest win in the history of the club.

“I have played in the NHL and have won the Calder Cup but this is the biggest night of my career – I am very very proud.” Concluded Cloutier.

The final-four for Elite League’s play-offs has been confirmed following the weekend’s quarterfinals.

Finals weekend will be held at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham on 7th/8th April.

Semi-final line-up

Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils (1pm)
Nottingham Panthers v Hull Stingrays (5pm)