Giants take #1 overall Cup seeding, Flyers break losing streak
Photo: William Cherry
Fife Flyers ended their 12-game losing run with an overtime victory in Belfast at the SSE Arena. The Giants picked up the point they needed to secure first overall seeding in the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals.
"It's a good feeling!" said Flyers' Tyler Heidt on breaking the losing streak. "We've been in the last five or six games, really close, and just haven't been able to find a way to close it off and obviously tonight is a really good way to carry it into tomorrow and the rest of the season.
"It's been tough to stay positive over the last while, but we've been doing a good job lately, and we just have to stay with it."
The Giants came out of the blocks flying and needed only 35 seconds to get the opener. Grant Mismash fed the puck to Mark Cooper in the right circle, who finished excellently with a backhanded goal to give the Giants the lead.
The Flyers responded swiftly, scoring an equaliser 93 seconds later. It came on a 5-on-3 powerplay - a one-timer was saved well by Jackson Whistle, however, he couldn't do anything to stop Phélix Martineau from putting in the rebound to get level.
Mark Cooper got his second to restore the lead for Belfast at 11:21. It came nine seconds into a powerplay as he was able to reverse into the slot and finish well past Voris.
Fife equalised for the second time through Ryan Foss. A 3-on-1 breakaway allowed Foss to be free and finish past Whistle to tie the game at 23:13.
Belfast once again took the lead three minutes later. Scott Conway picking out Zak Galambos at the back post, who tapped it in at 26:12.
However, for the third time, Fife came back to get level. An excellent finish by Tyler Heidt after he was found by Martineau saw him fire past Whistle at 29:50.
The Giants almost scored into their own net with Jackson Whistle heading to the bench for a delayed penalty, and a pass coming off his skate only to hit the post and prevent an embarrassing turn of events.
With six goals through 40 minutes, fans at the SSE Arena would have been expecting to see at least one in the final period of regulation. It didn't materialise, however, and the Giants earned the point they needed to secure top seeding in the Cup. 51 seconds into overtime, Lucas Chiodo finished neatly to win the game for the Flyers in overtime and give them their first victory in over a month.
"They've got a great team. Every time we play them, it's been a tough game, and today obviously carries a lot of confidence into the rest of the season," said Heidt of the Giants. "It's especially great for our goalie too. That's his first win in this league, and he's a younger guy so it's huge for him."
