Giants open with perfect weekend

Photo: Flyers Images

Belfast Giants completed a four-point opening weekend with a 4-2/win in Kirkcaldy over Fife Flyers, although it took them until late into the final period to put the Flyers away.

Olivier Leblanc came closest to opening the scoring for the Flyers in what turned out to be a scoreless first period, seeing his shot fire back off Jackson Whistle’s post. At the other end, the Giants had a chance checked on video to see if the puck had crossed the line, but the video was inconclusive.

Kyle Osterberg netted against his former team to put Belfast ahead 3:32 into the second, although the Flyers were adamant that the play was offside. Replays suggest they were correct but as a non-reviewable play the goal stood.

Fife were deservedly level though Johnny Curran’s breakaway finish past Whistle, but behind by the break with a goal credited to Bobo Carpenter that deflected off a defenseman and past Owen.

Carpenter scored against 1:57 into period three to put the visitors two up, only for a Lucas Chiodo shot on the spit to beat Whistle and make it 2-3 with 14 minutes to play. Michael Cichy had the Flyers’ best chance to level with a penalty shot but couldn’t beat Whistle five-hole.

Mark Cooper’s goal inside the final five minutes flattened the atmosphere in the building and left the Flyers with too much to do before the final buzzer.