Giants through despite close Clan push

Photo: Al Goold

Belfast Giants kept their hopes of a grand slam alive with a 7-6 aggregate victory over Glasgow Clan in the Viaplay Playoffs Quarter-Finals. Clan won the home leg 4-3 but it wasn't enough as they lost out by a single goal over two games to the league and cup champions.

Things seemed to have started well for the Giants who were ahead when Scott Conway finished off a smart passing play involving Sam Ruopp and David Goodwin for the lead with 3:12 played, and when Conway saw his shot sneak through Ty Taylor some two minutes later the Giants were four ahead on aggregate. A Steven McParland goal at 9:22 put the Clan on the board, and they were level at 14:53 through Dyson Stevenson's powerplay goal.

Will Cullen snuck another shot through Taylor to put the Giants back ahead 4:54 into period two, but Clan responded with a Kevin Massy back-post finish at 25:52 to level things again. 

Eight minutes into period three, Jeff Solow skated clean through on the breakaway and beat Tyler Beskorowany to put Clan ahead on the night and within one of levelling the series. They pushed but couldn't find the tying goal which saw the Giants head to Finals Weekend.