Giants end cup group stage with perfect record

Photo: Darren Kidd

Belfast Giants beat Glasgow Clan for the second time in 24 hours to end their Premier Sports Challenge cup group stage campaign with a perfect record of six wins and 12 points from six games played at the top of Group A.

The game was goalless through 20 minutes at the SSE Arena, but sprang into life in period two, Gabe Bast put the hosts ahead on the powerplay 2:59 in, before Ciaran Long followed his own rebound and slotted through Zach Driscoll's five-hole at 34:26 to double the Giants' lead.

An exquisite Chad Butcher wrist shot into the top corner of Driscoll's net made it 3-0 with 2:28 left in the second. Mark Cooper made it four 6:30 into what would be the final period, before David Goodwin tipped Bast's shot from the point at 51:02 for the home side's fifth of the night.

While the Giants win the group with a perfect record, Clan remain without a point and with only one game to go are effectively out of the cup unless results in other groups go in their favour.