Giants get back to winning ways

 Photograph of Belfast Giants' Jeff Szwez who was absent on Sunday against the Vipers, courtsey of Colin Lawson of Vipers Media: www.vipersmedia.smugmug.com.

Last Sunday saw the LBM Belfast Giants take on the Newcastle Vipers at the Odyssey Arena. Coming home from a loss at Whitley Bay on the previous night, the Giants were determined to take away the 2 points. The weekend saw George Awada back in the lineup, after an injury from the preseason. He replaced Jeff Szwez who is currently injured.

The Vipers got to a powerplay start, as the Giants went shorthanded in the first few minutes of the period. This didn’t slow the Giants down, as they went on to get chance after chance, as well as throwing their weight about. This resulted in the first goal of the game at 6:29. The play came as the Giants entered the Vipers’ zone. A barrage of shots around the net from Pat Bateman and Steve Thornton left Kevin Reiter out of position, for Evan Cheverie to bury the puck.

The period went on to be penalty filled for the Giants, with a lot of end to end play, until the last few minutes of the period. The Giants gained a powerplay opportunity, giving way for the Giants’ second goal of the game. A point shot from Colin Shields and a pass from Bateman to George Awada in front of the net left Kevin Reiter out of position again, leaving an easy shot for Awada, edging him closer to 300 career points in the Elite League, at 17:45. This left the period at 2-0 in favour of the Giants.

The Giants got off to a quick start again in the second period, grabbing a goal just 22 seconds in. A shot from Craig Peacock on the right wing left a tip in for Brandon Benedict in front of the net, with Shields also picking up an assist on the play. From this point, the Giants hit Kevin Reiter with shot after shot.

A powerplay opportunity for the Giants, as Kindle picked up a minor for hooking, led way to the second powerplay goal of the game for the Giants, at 24:52. A pass from Bateman to Shields at the point gave way to a point shot from Shields, giving Michael Jacobsen a tip in chance on the net, which increased the Giants’ lead to 4 goals.

Vipers’ Dean Holland took it into his own hands to get his team going, as he dropped the gloves with Mark Morrison. This seemed to work, as the Vipers got themselves a lucky, debatable goal. They appealed to the referee after the puck supposedly went through a hole in the net. This hole wasn’t found, and the officials certainly didn’t tie it up, but regardless, the goal was given to Jason Tejchma, with David Longstaff and Matus Petricko picking up assists, at 28:40.

Shortly before the end of the period, the Giants picked up another penalty, as Benedict sat for slashing. The Giants were able to grab their fifth goal, shorthanded, at 39:33. A pass from Cheverie to Steve Thornton gave space for Thornton to rip a shot into the top corner past Reiter, leaving the period 5-1 in favour of the Giants.

The Giants started off the third period on the penalty kill, as Benedict’s penalty carried over. Shortly after Benedict left the box, a breaking pass from Tom Walsh to Benedict left him alone on the netminder. A shot which deflected off the post left an open net for Shields, who fired the puck home at 41:58.

The Giants again picked up another penalty, as Peacock was sent to the box for interference after being pushed into the Vipers’ netminder. Shortly after the Vipers’ powerplay, they managed to pull another goal back. Play around the net led to Stephen Murphy being out of position, leaving an easy goal for Matus Petricko, with an assist from Longstaff.

The last 3 minutes of the period proved to be very tense, as the Giants tried to get rookie, Robbie Brown, his first Elite League point. As Viper, Nathan Salem, went to the box for hooking, the Giants had Sean McMorrow, Mark Morrison and Robbie Brown on the ice, trying to get that crucial point. Robbie was to be left disappointed as he awaits the chance to get his name on the game sheet.

The game finished with a final score 6-2 in favour of the Giants. Mark Morrison picked up the Giants’ man of the match, while Matus Petricko picked up the Vipers’.

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