Marc Pulls The Levers

The Coors Belfast Giants had a weeks rest following their two disappointing losses on the road to London and Cardiff, and tonight they faced the Basingstoke Bison at the Odyssey Arena. The Giants were still without veteran defenseman Shane Johnson but it marked an Odyssey debut for Matt Reid.

The Giants came out with a significant amount of pressure, but it only took referee Mike Hicks 25 seconds before putting Todd Kelman in the bin for holding, stamping his authority early on the game. The top line was anchored at centre by young British player Marc Levers, rewarded for his great performances on the road last week. And it was Levers who opened the scoring on 8 minutes. Linking up with Jason Ruff and Giants captain George Awada to score from close range. With Matt Reid in the box for tripping Mark Morrison came very close to scoring an impressive second Giants goal, picking the puck up in the offensive zone he skated to the net and had his back-handed shot saved well by Bison netminder Steve Briere, the Giants retaining the goal advantage.

That advantage was doubled only 4 minutes later when a shot from the point by Giants player-coach Ed Courtenay was deflected past Briere by Curtis Huppe. The Giants were well on top, Leigh Jamieson playing a very physical game hitting everything that moved and the home team strode even further in front with under a minute and a half remaining in the period. Levers laid the puck on to Steve O’Brien whose shot rebounded off Briere, it was picked up by Jason Ruff through the centre who made no mistake and gave the Giants a dominating 3-0 advantage at the first break.

If the Bison came out in the second period to limit the damage and stem the tide of Giants pressure… they weren’t successful. Marc Levers won the starting face off, knocking the puck down the right wing. George Awada picked up the loose puck and fired it over Briere’s right shoulder to make it 4-0 after only 7 seconds in the period.

The Giants continued to press the Bison, out-skating the visitors in attack and holding their own in defence. However a lapse allowed Bison d-man Mark Jackson through one on one with Mike Minard. Mini stood up well, pulling off a superb save to deny the visitors the opening goal. This save however came at a cost. Mini seemed to hurt himself in the action. The Giants netminder attempted to skate it off and in doing so made some fantastic saves on the penalty kill as Matt Reid sat in the penalty box for clipping. The trainer came on to check his fitness and it was deemed he could finish the period with only 4 minutes left, holding the Giants mammoth 4 goal advantage.

Minard came out again in the final period to stand between the pipes, his apparent injury not causing as much bother as it was at the end of the second. The outskaters retained their pressure on the visitors but the Bison netminder stood up well. Firstly stacking the pads to deny a chance for Ruff provided by Levers, then using the blocker to stop Todd Kelman from the right circle.

Any chance of a second consecutive home shut out for Minard was quashed 6 minutes into the third. Bison Man of the Match Brad Cruikshank forcing the puck into the back of the Giants net from infront of the crease. Assists went to Greg Chambers and Jim Shepherd as the Bison began what little of a late fightback they could.

The Giants powerplay is still a weakness and with the Bison’s Shane Moore serving 2 minutes for slashing, the visitors were still able to break away, Shawn Maltby forcing a great save from Giants Man of the Match Mike Minard one on one, Mini putting it over the bar and denying the Bison a shorthanded goal.

The Giants eased off in the remaining minutes, keeping the puck away from Minard further re-enforcing the fact that he was suffering from the earlier injury. But in the end it was a comfortable win for the home team and they take the 2 points as they prepare for their first meeting with the Nottingham Panthers on Thursday and the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday night.

Patrick Smyth

Aaron Kernohan

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