Late winner extends Giants' lead at top

Photo: John Uwins

A Tyler Soy goal with 3:56 to play proved to be the difference as Belfast Giants beat Guildford Flames 4-3 at the Spectrum, ensuring the new league leaders took maximum points from their three meetings with the Flames over the past three nights.

Jordan Boucher gave the Giants a lead just 2:19 into the game with a wicked wrist shot that went in off the pipework. In the previous two games the Giants had led by two after the first period, but this time the Flames hit back under four minutes later when Mike Crocock's shot went all the way through from distance at 6:02.

Ian Watters deflected John Dunbar's shot in front to put the Flames ahead on the powerplay 2:03 into period two, but that lead lasted until 1:22 from the end of the period when David Goodwin tied things up again.

Goodwin pounced at the back post after good work behind the net from Boucher to gibe the Giants the lead at 43:16, but the Flames hit straight back to tie things up once again thanks to Watters tipping in front 42 seconds later.

However, there was to be a winner in 60 minutes and it went against the wishes of the home crowd. Soy deflected home Slater Doggett's feed in the slot to win it for the Giants at 56:04 and extend their lead at the top of the Premier Sports Elite League to two points.