Giants fall to first-leg defeat in bid to retain Challenge Cup
Keefe confident they can get it right in return match at SSE
The Belfast Giants have it all to do – if they are to retain their Challenge Cup.
They lost their first-leg semi-final 2-1 away to Glasgow Clan last night.
Having played three games in three nights, coach Adam Keefe said it was a tough ask of his players but remains confident they can turn it around in the second leg in front of a home crowd, in a fortnight’s time.
“I thought we looked fatigued – I wish we would have played a little bit smarter,” he said.
“I am happy this was a Challenge Cup game and not a league one.
“We have another chance to claw this back and, ultimately, get a win.”
The visitors took a 2-0 lead after 25 minutes with Kyle Baun’s powerplay goal bringing the visitors to within one ahead of the decisive 2nd Leg in Belfast on Thursday 14th February.
Tyler Beskorowany started in the Giants net with the Belfast side missing Hunter Bishop, Guillaume Gelinas, Matt Towe and Andrew Dickson.
The Giants rallied and pulled one back through Kyle Baun’s powerplay strike.
The Giants piled on the pressure during the final period, though could not find a way past Joel Rumpel in the Clan goal.
Next up for the Giants are home games this Saturday and Sunday against the Coventry Blaze and Nottingham Panthers respectively.