Belfast Giants dominate the Clan

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The Stena Line Belfast Giants completed a clean sweep of Challenge Cup Group A on Saturday night at the SSE Arena, Belfast, dominating the Glasgow Clan on their way to a 5-0 victory.

Goals from Gabe Bast, Ciaran Long, Chad Butcher, Mark Cooper and David Goodwin, along with a first shut out for goaltender Peyton Jones completed yet another 4-point weekend for Adam Keefe’s side.

FIRST PERIOD

The Belfast Giants started where they left off after Friday night’s road victory against the Glasgow Clan, utterly dominating the visitors at the SSE Arena. Despite this, the score remained deadlocked at the break.

Ciaran Long could have had Adam Keefe’s side 2 goals up early on, but good goaltending from Zach Driscoll held the Giants at bay.

Scott Conway’s shot from the left of the crease was similarly swallowed up by the Glasgow goaltender, before the Giants continued to dominate the offensive zone on their opening power play as Steven McParland sat for interference at 6:27.

Mark Cooper came close on the breakaway with a backhand effort in the 15th minute, but the puck was blown dead following a scramble in front of goal.

Adam Keefe called for a review on a washed wraparound goal in the closing minutes, but the referees continued play.

SECOND PERIOD

The Giants began the second period with just under 1 minute of power play on the clock, following Mathieu Roy’s tripping penalty at 18:58.

Mitch Jones followed Roy to the box for a tripping penalty at 21:00. Gabe Bast struck with just 1 second remaining on the man-advantage, sending a beautiful shot from the top of the right circle over the blocker of Driscoll at 22:59. (1-0)

The Giants penalty kill was successfully tested on a Will Cullen slashing call at 31:38, before Ciaran Long doubled the hosts’ lead in close at 34:26- a well-deserved goal in a great performance from the British forward. (2-0)

History repeated itself as Tyler Soy’s hooking call at 35:18 was dealt with by the Giants kill unit, before Chad Butcher made it 3 to cap off a clinical period of hockey at 37:32. (3-0)

THIRD PERIOD

The game was out of reach for Glasgow at 46:30 when Mark Cooper made it 4, taking a precise cross-ice pass from David Goodwin on the right. (4-0)

Adam Keefe’s side added a fifth less than 5 minutes later, when Captain David Goodwin capitalised on a John Dunbar tripping penalty at 51:02. (5-0)

Belfast were content to coast their way home after a dominant performance, and a penalty heavy last 10 minutes did nothing to move the needle.

Glasgow’s Jordan Buesa took 2+2 for slashing and rouging, alongside Colby McAuley’s rouging call at 52:25- and Ciaran Long and the Clan’s Gary Haden took a pair of 2s for roughing and cross checking respectively to see out the game.

Courtesy of Joel Neill