Elite Ice-hockey League: Giants in hunt for Grand Slam after reaching Play-off finals
The Belfast Giants secured their place in the Elite League Play-off finals after a dramatic shoot-out win over Coventry Blaze in their quarter-final second leg yesterday evening (Sunday)
It was some game at the SSE Arena in Belfast - going into a fifth round of sudden death, before JJ Piccinich scored the winner and sent the Giants through to the finals in Nottingham this weekend.
David Goodwin (main pic) looked to have won it on Belfast’s fifth penalty shot following four misses from both sides, but Coventry came through in the clutch via Johnny Curran in their own fifth.
With the order reversed, Janne Kivilahti scored Coventry’s opening sudden death shot, but Scott Conway replied with a goal of his own with the game on the line.
JJ Piccinich (below) then clinched the winner following a Beskorowany save off Janne Kivilahti.
Having already won the Elite League title and the Challenge Cup this season, the Giants have been the dominant force.
Further success in Nottingham would see them complete a clean sweep of the silverware.