HIGHLIGHTS: Giants 3-2 Clan
The Stena Line Belfast Giants moved into third place in the Elite League standings with Saturday's 3-2 win over the Braehead Clan at a noisy SSE Arena.
The Stena Line Belfast Giants moved into third place in the Elite League standings with Saturday's 3-2 win over the Braehead Clan at a noisy SSE Arena.
Goals from Higgins, Boxill and Desmarais earned the two points and got the Giants weekend off to a winning start ahead of Sunday's showdown away against the Cardiff Devils.
Both James Desmarais and Adam Keefe returned to action although David Rutherford missed out with Jackson Whistle starting in goal for the Giants.
The home side dominated from the puck drop, outshooting the Braehead Clan 14-7 in the opening period and their control payed off at 6:23 when Chris Higgins squeezed the puck into the net, assisted by Michael Forney and Derrick Walser.
Jonathan Boxill doubled the home side's lead at 17:17, assisted by Ryan Martinelli and Michael Quesnele, however 12 second later the Clan pulled one back as Peacock netted at 19:29. 90 seconds later and the game was tied up at 2-2 thanks to Pitt's goal at 18:59.
It was James Desmarais who netted the all important third goal at 25:21, as his shot gave the Giants the lead and in the end was the game winning goal for the hosts, assisted by Matt Towe and Adam Keefe.
Jackson Whistle and the rest of the Giants closed out the game in a professional matter, turning away 22 shots as the Belfast crowd cheered two points at home to lift their side into third place behind Cardiff and Nottingham.
The Giants return to action on Sunday away against the Cardiff Devils, face-off 6pm at Ice Arena Wales. The next home games are on Friday 11th November against the Fife Flyers and against the Cardiff Devils on Saturday 12th November.
Final Score Stena Line Belfast Giants 3-2 Braehead Clan
Giants Man of the Match #89 Jonathan Boxill