Conway wins it for Giants in shootout

Photo: William Cherry

Belfast Giants stayed seven points clear at the top of the Elite League table, but did it the hard way against Guildford Flames in front of 6,633 fans at the SSE Arena.

"I thought in the first period, if you look at the shot storyline, we dominated. I think we played ok in the first but could've been a little more direct and inside and played with a little more intent, but in the second period, they took it to us." explained Giants' captain Mark Cooper post-game. "We were on our heels, and they were winning every battle.

"In the third period, we were a desperate team, and we weren't going to be denied. I thought we probably could've won it in regulation. We had a lot of chances in the third but ended up getting it done in the shootout.|

Guildford came out of the blocks quickly and took the lead after 55 seconds. Charlie Dodero hit a shot that hit off the pipes that went straight to Austin Glover, who had an easy tap in to put the Flames ahead.

The Flames continued to look comfortable throughout the period and doubled their lead at 15:53. Ryan Tait won the puck back and picked out Ethan Strang. Strang was clinical, finishing well into the top corner past Tom McCollum. 

The Giants were able to get one back before the end of the period on the powerplay due to Matt Alvaro being penalised for tripping. David Goodwin found Mark Cooper, who cut in from the left circle and lifted the puck over Eamon McAdam to pull a goal back for Belfast at 18:05.

The Flames restored their two-goal cushion through Joshua Waller. Ethan Strang found Waller, who fired past McCollum at 29:26 for their third goal. 

The Giants pushed for a second but couldn't get one and left themselves with plenty to do going into the third period.

Bobo Carpenter got the all-important next goal 1:59 into period three, setting up the rest of the period for a big finish. "That was a huge goal by Bobo," added Cooper. "I think you saw the energy of our team escalate when he scored that and it was a 'we won't be denied mentality' which was really nice to see. I think in previous years when we've won titles you find yourself down in games and you always find a way to claw it back so it was hopefully a statement win for us."

It fell to JJ Piccinich to tie the game on the powerplay with less than four minutes to go - finishing off an excellent David Goodwin pass high past McAdam to make it 3-3 with 3:13 to play. In truth, the Giants could easily have won the game in regulation but for McAdam.

The Flames definitely deserved something out of the game and deservedly took a point with the scores tied after 60 minutes. In the extra period, however, they should have won it after Conway was penalised for tripping. McCollum make several saves including a great slide to the far post to stop the Flames taking the extra point. 

In the end, the bonus point was decided in a shootout with Conway tucking home the winner in round six after both teams had only scored one each in the opening five rounds.