Penalties cost Giants in CHL vs. Davos

Photo: Darren Kidd

Belfast Giants were beaten 6-3 by HC Davos in their second Champions Hockey League game of the season, with a number of penalties making their jobs all the more harder against the Swiss champions. 

The Giants came out of the gates at pace, matching the fast-skating Swiss Champions for the opening five. Davos were the first to strike at when defenceman Michael Fora found a squared pass at the edge of the crease at 6:53.

Magnus Nygren doubled the visitors’ lead with a one-timer from the right circle at 15:14, but the roof almost lifted off the SSE when Mark Cooper found David Gilbert who roofed the puck past Davos goalie Sandro Aeschlimann just 30 seconds later.

Ben Lake tied the encounter with a smart faceoff play from Ciaran Long at 21:10, before Davos edged the lead again on the power play as Matej Stransky fired home at 22:48 with Chad Butcher in the box for hooking.

As a scintillating encounter continued, the Giants countered again as Scott Conway’s snipe from the high slot sent the Teal Army back to their feet at 23:19.

Tempers began to flare on-ice as Davos found themselves in a battle they perhaps did not anticipate. The sides exchanged penalties and scuffles after the whistle before Scott Conway’s cross-check in the crease opened the door for the visitors to retake the lead at 32:01 courtesy of Stransky once again.

Davos found another at 34:22 with Steve Owre in the box for hooking. Valentin Nussbaumer’s marker was the Swiss Champions’ third consecutive powerplay goal of the period. 

The Giants survived a Colby McAuley penalty for checking to the head at 42:31 but saw back-to-back power plays go begging when Julian Schmulz and Raphael Prassl followed in quick succession.

Leon Bristedt poured cold water over the Teal Army’s hopes of a comeback, firing over Peyton Jones shoulder for the visitors’ 6th at 55:19 before the Giants weathered back-to-back penalty kills to end the game.