Giants stay unbeaten with one-goal win

Photo: Flyers Images

Belfast Giants made it four straight Challenge Cup wins to start the 2023/24 season but were pushed all the way by Fife Flyers on Saturday night.

It was tight throughout in Kirkcaldy with only one goal to separate the teams.

The Flyers had a good start to the opening period as the Giants took a couple of early minors, but couldn't find a way past Jackson Whistle. At the other end, Shane Owen pulled off a smart glove save as the Giants grew into the game and the period ended goalless. 

The hosts ran into penalty trouble in period two and were eventually punish, not on a kill but shortly after Brady Poteau had returned to the ice - Ciaran Long the scorer through a crowd of players to put Belfast ahead at 32:07.

The flyers should have tied the game early in period three while Daniel Tedesco sat an interference minor, but opted for one-pass too many when shooting past Jackson Whistle seemed like the better option. With 48:27 on the clock, Lucas Chiodo had a golden chance to level with a penalty shot for a Miles Gendron holding call, but lost control of the puck and failed to trouble Whistle. Anthon Erikkson left the game during the final period after an unfortunate hit which saw him clatter into the plexi support post at the end of the Giants bench.

As the clock ticked down Kyle Osterberg wad called for holding with 2:05 left, and a sarcastic stick tap from Chiodo saw him also penalised and put the flyers down to three skaters for almost all of the remainder of the game. Owen denied the Giants an insurance goal, but the hosts were unable to get up ice and find a way to tie things up.