Giants go top with demolition of Flames

Photo: John Uwins

Belfast Giants went top of the Viaplay Elite League with a big win at the home of the team they overtook in the table - Guildford Flames.

Guildford started brightly against a Belfast side that had won in Nottingham the night before and were deservedly ahead through an excellent Ryan Tait backhand finish as he cut in toward's Tyler Beskorowany's net with 3:40 played. A Ciaran Long rocket slapshot levelled the scores at 13:07, and as the Giants began to take over Gabe Bast shot home on the powerplay from the slot to put the visitors ahead with 11 seconds left in the opening period.

Scott Conway and Grant Cooper scored 2:20 apart to put the Giants into a 4-1 lead with only 7:57 played in period two after which the game turned feisty. Celebrations after Lewis Hook scored the Giants' fifth resulted in a scrum involving every player on the ice with Brett Ferguson and Ben Lake ejected for fighting. Gabe Bast scored his second of the night at 31:09 to make it 6-1, while Sam Marklund was later ejected for fighting while Mark Cooper headed for an early shower for a spearing major.

No goals and a somewhat more subdued period three saw the Giants ride out the five-goal win.