HIGHLIGHTS: Giants 4 - 1 Blaze
An impressive display by Stena Line Belfast Giants on Saturday saw them win 4-1 over the Coventry Blaze in a physical game at home.
An impressive display by Stena Line Belfast Giants on Saturday saw them win 4-1 over the Coventry Blaze in a physical game at home. Goals from Mason, Vandermeer, Forney and Riley gave the Giants an important home win and sees the Belfast side climb into third place in the Elite League standings.
The Giants lined up the same as in Friday's game with Rutherford, Desmarais, Keefe and Whistle all missing out as Stephen Murphy started in the home net.
Just like Friday's game, it was the visitors who took an early lead as Robin Bergman scored at 6:38, assisted by Marquardt.
The Giants dominated the remainder of the period, outshooting the Blaze 14-9, as they went in search of an equaliser. With the game looking like the visitors would take a 1-0 lead going into the first intermission, it was Matt Towe with some nice play behind the Giants net who picked out Jeff Mason for a one-timer than shot into the back of the net at 18:34.
However the Giants were not finished yet in the opening period and only 27 seconds later - they were ahead, this time Jim Vandermeer with an impressive finish as he batted the puck out of mid-air past Stewart in the Coventry goal, assisted by Steve Saviano and Matt Towe.
With Giants scoring at 18:34 in the opening period - it only took the hosts 47 seconds of the second period to add another to the scoresheet. Michael Forney was hauled down right in front of goal and the referee awarded the Giants a penalty shot which the forward despatched into the back of the Coventry goal.
The Giants got their second of the period and fourth of the game at 27:20 as Blair Riley fired the puck home, assisted by Chris Higgins and Derrick Walser.
With three minutes gone in the final period, Matt Nickerson and the Blaze's Garrett Klotz dropped the gloves at centre-ice and then seconds later Colin Shields and David Clements went at it as the game took on a physical edge. The Giants closed out the game in style, shutting down the Blaze for the remainder of the game.
The Giants face the Braehead Clan in their next game, at home, on Saturday 29th October at The SSE Arena, Belfast before travelling to Cardiff the next day to take on the Devils.