Giants extend lead at top

Photo: John Uwins

Belfast Giants extended their lead at the top of the Elite League to two points with a 3-1 road win over Guildford Flames on Wednesday night.

“I thought it was really good, I don’t think we were great in the first period, but I thought we got better as the game went on and ultimately we got the win,” said Giants Gabe Bast. ”Every game in this league is important, playing in Guildford is not an easy task, but either at home or on the road you have to get results.”

It was the fifth straight game in which the Giants limited the Flames to two goals or fewer, and the fifth consecutive outing in which Belfast conceded just once.

Belfast controlled much of the opening period, creating a number of early chances, but it was Guildford who struck first. With just over two minutes remaining in the frame, Ethan Strang opened the scoring after Jake Coughler forced a turnover in the Giants’ zone, allowing Strang to fire home.

"It’s important to get on the board first, especially at home, to get the fans into it,” said Flames’ Ethan Strang. “I thought we played good this game, just they answered back quickly and the game kind of went on from there. We didn’t get one on our powerplay, and they got one on theirs, that was the difference.”

Guildford were unable to make their late first-period powerplay count, and the Giants levelled the game midway through the second. At 29:00, Guildford were penalised for too many men on the ice, and Belfast capitalised as Gabe Bast finished a well-worked power-play move to make it 1-1.

The Flames were handed further powerplay opportunities but could not convert, leaving the game tied heading into the third period.

Mike Lee put the Giants ahead 3:52 into the final frame, unleashing a wrist shot from the point after starting the rush from his own end.

Both goaltenders made key saves late on. Justin Fazio somehow reached back and scooped a puck off the goal line to prevent the Giants going further ahead with under eight minutes remaining; while with 4:40 on the clock, Jackson Whistle got across quickly to deny Strang on the one-timer. Belfast sealed the result when David Goodwin fired into the empty net from the defensive zone with 38 seconds remaining after Fazio had been pulled.