Giants thrash Devils in Belfast

Photo: William Cherry

Belfast Giants thrashed Cardiff Devils 9-3 at the SSE Arena for their biggest win of the season so far over last seasons playoff winners.

Steven Owre won a puck battle to gain the puck and slotted under Ben Bowns to open the scoring at 1:44. Ryan Penny tucked home a rebound to tie things at 15:59, but Darik Angeli put the Giants back ahead before the intermission with a finish in close at 17:22.

Owre's shorthanded goal 2:12 into period two, faking a defenseman on the way to the net, put the Giants 3-1 up and started a goal rush for the home side. David Goodwin made it four just over three minutes later, before Owre made it a hat trick at 30:02 with Kozun now in net. Scott Conway and David Gilbert had goals three minutes apart to put the score up to 7-1 with 34:07 played, while Ciaran Long and Owre's fourth of the night gave Belfast a 9-1 lead after 40 minutes. 

Jake Coughler pulled one back for the visitors 1:50 into period three, with Brodie Reid getting Cardiff's third with 4:43 to go. Both sides had a goal washed out on video review in between.