The Stena Line Belfast Giants defeated the Fife Flyers 7-0 in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final 2nd Leg to advance to a Semi Final clash against the Nottingham Panthers. The Giants win, backstopped by a Jackson Whistle shutout, made the overall aggregate scoreline 10-3.
The Giants began the game with Sebastien Sylvestre suspended and Dustin Johner, Stephen Murphy and Mark Garside missing through injury. The dates for the Semi-Final tie against the Nottingham Panthers will be confirmed in due course.
Giants Off To A Flyer
The Giants got their home leg of the Quarter Final off to an ideal start with two goals helping the Belfast side into an early 5-3 aggregate advantage.
First it was Steve Saviano who struck with a nice top shelf finish coming off the wing, assisted by Blair Riley, at 5:07.
Brendan Connolly doubled the Giants lead at 11:09 when Matt Towe sent the forward on a breakaway right after he stepped out of the penalty box.
Riley And Ferland Extend Giants Lead
Blair Riley fired home on the powerplay at 24:20, assisted by David Rutherford and Brendan Connolly, to extend the hosts lead to three.
Jonathan Ferland made it 4-0 at 34:53, assisted by Spiro Goulakos and John Kurtz, as the Giants took a 7-3 aggregate lead moving into the final period.
Giants Close Out Flyers
The Giants closed out this Quarter Final in style with a perfect final period. Colin Shields started the third period scoring with a shorthanded effort, assisted by Steve Saviano, at 43:59.
David Rutherford netted the hosts’ sixth of the game at 48:33, assisted by Cole Jarrett before Darcy Murphy finished off the scoring with a powerplay strike at 52:43 after a classy assist from David Rutherford.
Final Score:
Stena Line Belfast Giants 7-0 Fife Flyers (10-3 on aggregate)
Giants Man of the Match:
#2 Cole Jarrett (4 Assists)
Next Up?
The Giants are next in action at home this Friday and Saturday with a ‘double header’ against the Nottingham Panthers. Face-off for both games is 7pm at The SSE Arena.
Photo: Press Eye
