ICE HOCKEY: Giants set for Sunday showdown in Belfast after first leg play-off tie
Coventry Blaze 2 Belfast Giants 2
The Stena Line Belfast Giants took a 2-2 draw from their Premier Sports EIHL Play-off Quarter Final first leg at the Skydome in Coventry on Saturday night.
That sets up a showdown at The SSE Arena in Belfast on Sunday afternoon, with the winner progressing to the 2021-22 Play-off Finals Weekend.
Darcy Murphy’s early goal remained the difference maker into the final ten minutes of a tight game, before a flurry of goals saw the first leg finish 2-2.
Giants’ goalie Tyler Beskorowany was tested after 30 seconds, as Ryan Penny’s tip in front was covered up.
At the other end, Giants Captain David Goodwin provided the visitors with their first big chance after four minutes, but with Blaze goalie CJ Motte wrong-footed, Goodwin’s shot trickled wide.
Belfast continued to press, and Ben Lake’s wrister from the high slot at 5:50 was parried into the path of Darcy Murphy who made no mistake in front of goal.
Coventry surged offensively after the drop and had the edge mid-period, with Beskorowany turning away a series of decent attempts.
Joey Raats sent a puck to the crease for Ryan Penny to tip down inside the last five minutes, but again Beskorowany held strong, before Janne Laakkonen’s shot was saved with the blocker seconds later.
Cam Knight sat for tripping at 17:54, but the Giants - playing without one of their premier penalty killers in Kevin Raine - saw away the danger.
Ryan Penny stirred the Skydome crowd on the opening faceoff, taking advantage of an early lapse in concentration from the Giants defenders to call Beskorowany into a blocker save.
The Giants players silenced that energy after five minutes, celebrating a goal after a puck was sent into traffic at Motte’s crease but, after a lengthy conversation, referees Tom Pering and Steve Brown waved play on.
Belfast went two for two on the penalty kill at 27:21 when Cam Knight returned to the box for hooking, and they couldn't find the target on their opening power play when Alec Marsh sat for roughing at 30:12.
A fairly end to end period came to a head when Evan Bloodoff shot off the backhand after a forced turnover with two minutes remaining, but again Beskorowany was alert to the danger.
Penny was denied his second breakaway of the game by Beskorowany after three minutes, followed by a grade A Evan Bloodoff shot moments later. The Giants goalie and his defencemen were holding back the tide as the period entered its final ten. As Coventry pressed, Sam Ruopp broke up a Luke Ferrara/Ross Venus 2 on 1.
David Goodwin came close with nine minutes remaining, skating in from the left and dangling the puck around a diving Nahanael Halbert before Motte stepped up with a big save.
Jaane Kivilahti tied the game at 51:50, a fair reward for a decent period from the hosts as he finished a Ross Venus puck in the slot.
An animated Adam Keefe called a time-out immediately, and the Giants were clinical but unfortunate on a Bloodoff tripping penalty at 52:06.
Goal scorer Darcy Murphy was there to set up Slater Doggett for the go-ahead goal as the pendulum swung again on a frantic third period at 55:04.
The Giants saw away a Slater Doggett high sticking penalty at 55:09, but a puck from the right side boards was flicked from the edge of the crease by Conner Chaulk into the path of Nathanael Halbert, who tied proceedings for the Blaze at 58:11.
UP NEXT
The second leg of the Premier Sports EIHL Playoff Quarter Final takes place in Belfast this afternoon (Sunday) at 4pm, with the aggregate score tentatively tied at 2.