Threesy does it for Belfast Giants

Doug Christiansen always stated it would take time for his new squad of players to gel. Well, Giants fans, I think that process is moving along quite nicely after three wins in a row.

First up with a visit to the “Big Blue Tent” in Cardiff Bay.

Certainly in the first forty minutes of the game, the outcome was very much in the balance, as it could have gone either way.

However, the Giants came out at the start of the third period and put the game out the reach of the hosts with three quick fire goals. The Devils’ goaltender Phil Oaser played a blinder between the pipes.

Daymen Rycroft scored the opening goal however the Devils had the better of the second period as they tried to get the game back on level terms. This time it was the Giants’ Stephen Murphy who was proving to be a difficult target to get the puck past with the Giants leading 1-0.

Belfast took the game by the scruff of the neck in the third period netting three goals in a three-minute spell. Craig Peacock then Daymen Rycroft doing the damage, before Adam Keefe added a fourth. No further goals in the game and Stephen Murphy posted his first shutout of the season turning away all 33 shots he faced.

Next up was the inform outfit, that of Braehead Clan coming to “Fortress Odyssey” with Jade Galbraith, (Elite League player of the year) back in the line up after a lengthy delay due to a work permit issue.

Belfast was made to sweat, only taking both Challenge Cup points through hard work by their forwards and two goals from the defense as Garrett Zemlak played magnificently keeping the Clan in it till the final whistle.

Belfast made the early running outshooting Clan by 15 to 4 in the opening period. Another rocket from Robby Sandrock was the root clause of the first Giants score. The Clan however pulled themselves level with a powerplay effort by Ash Goldie to tie the game up at 1-1.

Giants Dman Will Colbert scored on a powerplay and with five seconds remaining on the second period game clock, the former NHLer Greg Stewart made it 3-1 with the Giants looking like early victors.

Braehead tried as they might but were simply unable to get any meaningful efforts on goal in the third period being outshot 13 to 2 but one of those two set up a nervy finish as Jade Galbraith scored on his seasons debut for Clan to make it a one-goal game.

Pulling Zemlak from the Clan’s goal with just over a minute to play whilst trying to find the equalizer proved to be fruitless. The Giants ‘D’ were in no mood to surrender their winning position and the final buzzer signaled that deserved but narrow victory for Doug Christiansen’s men.

Next up was an away trip on Sunday night being the third game in four nights where Belfast faced the resurgent Fife Flyers. The game was a League and Challenge Cup double up affair.

The outcome was a close one with only a goal in the 59th minute from Daymen Rycroft giving Doug Christiansen’s charges some insurance.

Giants got off to a perfect start when Will Colbert shot them into the lead after just under two minutes played. However it was pretty even after that with both squads’ defenses playing a major role in the final outcome.

Andrew Fournier netted in the second period which saw Giants build a 2-0 lead as the visitor’s confidence increased. The Flyers made it exciting by scoring on the powerplay with Derek Keller taking the strike.

Then oldest Ice Hockey Club in GB going back to the 1930 era saw their fans erupt with their well established supporters looking to continue their winning ways. It was a testing time for the visitors until Daymen Rycroft scored the crucial third goal for Giants to end the contest giving the Flyers no chance of a recovery.

The Giants after their three wins in a row find themselves one point out of first spot with Nottingham Panthers the next to visit Belfast with the first of a flood of current NHL Players looking for work due to the Leagues current lockout.

EIHL Standings – as of 30/09/12