WATCH: Giants shutout Flyers to advance to quarter finals
Belfast Giants raced into an early lead and Fife couldn't catch up
The Stena Line Belfast Giants started out hot on Saturday night, putting the visiting Fife Flyers in a hole early with three first period goals, which they never recovered from. After the scoring frenzy, the Giants shored up on defence and added two more late goals for a 5-0 win, giving goalie Jackson Whistle his first shutout of the season.
Connolly’s opening goal proved to be the game winner, but Ferland’s two goal effort won him the Man of the Match award and helped the Giants stay comfortably ahead throughout the night.
Late goals from Sylvestre and Riley removed any doubt that the Giants would come away victorious, and sparked a brawl after the fifth goal which made the win a little more interesting for the fans. The home victory saw the Giants advance to the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals.
Connolly And Ferland Get Giants Firing
Brendan Connolly opened the scoring for the Giants after 7:46 with a shot from the point, assisted by Sebastien Sylvestre, and only 9 seconds later (7:55), Jonathan Ferland skated across the middle of the Flyers’ defensive zone and fired one past goalie Jordan Marr’s blocker-side. Ferland’s goal was assisted by Saviano and Shields.
The Giants continued to lay on the pressure, forcing Fife to remain in their defensive zone, and at 10:18, Ferland recorded his second of the night with a silky move to take out the defender, followed by a bar-down backhanded shot. Towe and Benedict recorded the assists on the Giants third goal of the night.
Goalless 2nd Period As Flyers Fail To Capitalise
The Giants tacked on another six penalty minutes to their tally, yet the Flyers failed to capitalise, ending the second period with the same 3-0 scoreline as the first. The period had a much more even 6-5 shot total in favour of the Giants compared to the 15-5 tally of the first.
Giants Add Two More Late Goals To Secure Shutout Win
A late goal at 57:09 from Sylvestre, assisted by Connolly and Riley, gave the Giants an even more secure lead, and their fifth goal with 36.5 seconds remaining only added insult to injury. This goal was scored by Riley, assisted by Goulakos and Sylvestre.
Tensions were high, and following the celebrations from the Giants players on the fifth goal, a fight broke out between Kurtz and Heelis of the Flyers, leading to an ejection for both players. This victory ensured the Giants a place in the Quarter Finals of the Challenge Cup