Giants open season with road win

Photo: Derek Black

The Belfast Giants started 2021/22 with a road win over Dundee in the Premier Sports Challenge Cup, their first game of any sort this season.

It was an excellent opening period for the Giants, who had not played any preseason games ahead of opening night.

Ben Lake's wrist shot from the slot found the net with 1:48 gone to give the Giants the perfect start, much to the delight of the travelling supporters. With 8:15 gone, Lake's perfect pass across the slot found Lewis Hook who had an easy finish to make it 2-0 and put the Giants in control. Dundee responded quickly though and were back into the game just 28 seconds later as Robin Bengtsson's nice pass found Kyle Haas in close to open the Stars' account for the season. However, JJ Piccinich driving the net allowed him to force the puck under Adam Morrison and reestablish the visitors' two-goal lead with 3:11 left in the period.

A huge Connor Sills slapshot flew past Beskorowany with 25 minutes played to bring the Stars back to within one, but playing 4-on-3 with five minutes left in the period Piccinich got his second of the game to put the Giants 4-2 up. Dundee were back to within one though before the period without, another excellent pass from Charlie Combs this time setting up Philippe Sanche with 15 seconds left on the clock.

David Goodwin finished top shelf from Scott Conway's clever pass at 47:05 to give the Giants a two-goal cushion once again, and the game was made save with 72 seconds left on the clock with Goodwin's second of the game to cap a great start to the season for Belfast, although the Stars could consider themselves unlucky to not have got back on level terms earlier in the tie.