Hat-trick hero Murphy shines as Giants stop Flyers in their tracks
Back-to-back wins for Adam Keefe's side in perfect season opener
The Belfast Giants made it two wins from two as they got their season off to the perfect start.
After Saturday’s win over Dundee Stars, they beat Fife Flyers 3-1 last night.
The back-to-back wins sees the Giants top their Challenge Cup Group B.
Darcy Murphy helped himself to a hat-trick in what was a superb all-round individual performance.
For a second straight night it was the Giants who took the lead against their Scottish opponents. Darcy Murphy’s strike at 11:49, with assists to David Rutherford and Pat Dwyer, gave the visitors a deserved first period lead.
Later in the opening 20 minutes, Jonathan Boxill took exception to a late hit from Danick Gautier on David Rutherford and dropped the gloves with the Flyers forward.
The away side continued to impress in the middle period, outshooting the Flyers 17-4.
At 32:20 Darcy Murphy posted his and his team’s second of the game when he finished well after a goalmouth scramble, assisted by Guillaume Gelinas.
With David Rutherford sitting out a two minute interference call, it was that man Murphy again who would pick up on a Flyers giveaway, skate the puck into the hosts zone and slot the puck cooly past Shane Owen in the Fife net.
Darcy Murphy’s third goal came at 43:58, unassisted and shorthanded, as the Giants extended their lead yet again.
The Flyers ended the Giants shutout hopes with a late consolation at 54:19 as Scott Aarssen rifled the puck into the Giants net from the blueline, assisted by Carlo Finucci and Evan Stoflet.