Giants go seven points clear at top

Photo: James Assinder

Belfast Giants moved seven points clear at the top of the Elite League table with a well-deserved 4-1 victory over second-placced Cardiff Devils at a sold-out Vindico Arena.

A back-and-forth first period in the Vindico Arena saw Belfast and Cardiff pick up a handful of penalties including a tripping minor for Belfast Giants Mike Lee. Further into the period, a 4-on-4 scenario occurred on ice following an altercation between Ben Lake and Jarrod Gourley. To round out the many penalties of the period, Reid Duke picked himself up two minutes for a boarding penalty after a huge hit. Despite the physicality and barrage of goal-scoring opportunities, the first and only goal of the period went to the home team after Ryan Barrow was able to tip in a shot from Evan Mosey 16 minutes in. The Giants had been the more dangerous of the teams in the opening period, but it was the Devils who led through 20 minutes.

Period two started with Belfast finding an equaliser after Gabe Bast used impressive puck work to get the puck into a goal-scoring position to tie things at 03:54. Just under five minutes later, the Giants went ahead after Zak Galambos got the puck through the five-hole of Mac Carruth. To add to an already great period for the away team, a Belfast powerplay gave them their their third goal of the night - Jordan Kawaguchi and Grant Mismash forced Mac Carruth out of position which provided Ben Lake the opportunity slot the puck home at the far post.

The Giants given a bench minor for delay of the game at the start of period three, after taking the ice some three minutes after the clock hit zero. That interrupted their four-minute advantage after Reid Duke had been called for high-sticking 13 seconds before the end of the middle period, but didn't produce any goals.

JJ Piccinich made it 4-1 with just under 12 minutes to go which all but killed off the game. The Giants could have added to their advantage, although a top-drawer pad save from Jackson Whistle prevented the Devils from getting back into things.

The win for the Giants was their third in three over the Devils this season.