Fog Off? Hicks Helps.

The fog over Belfast failed to blur the Giants sights as they continued to home in on the Elite League title tonight, despite a 15 minute delay due to a lack of officials. Michael Hicks stepped in at the last minute while his colleagues' flight was re-routed to the North coast allowing the game to commence 15 minutes late. In an Odyssey first, only one official took to the ice, with the agreement of both coaches, before Moray Hanson and Mark Drennan arrived to take their places at the beginning of the second period.

The delay didn't seem to freeze the Giants attacking instincts however, as they took the lead at 1.17, Theo Fleury getting a tip on Steve O'Brien's point shot which directed the puck past the impressive Martin Kucera.

The Giants doubled that lead in the second period with a second Theo Fleury goal at 25.44, converting Ed Courtenay's fantastic pass through the crease. Meanwhile the Giants contrived to miss all sorts of chances, hitting the posts and Kucera at regular intervals, despite some great penetrative passing. The Capitals threw an unexpected spanner in the works however at 34.48 with Martin Cingel converting Tony Hand's pass and the Capital's first shot of the second period past the underworked Mike Minard.

Moving into the 3rd period, the Giants continued to press looking for that insurance goal , again testing Martin Kucera to his limits as he always seemed to be found sprawling in the right place at the right time. Ed Courtenay got that goal on the Powerplay on exactly 49.00 finally converting one of his many chances on the powerplay finishing a pretty passing move by slotting the puck through Kucera's legs from Theo Fleury and Steve O'Brien.

Kucera had one last chance to show why he picked up the Capitals man of the match making a fine double save from Marc Levers and Mark Morrison as the game wound down, the much improved Capitals never quite showing the killer instinct to get back into the game, managing only 9 shots in the entire game compared to the Giants 37.

And so the final hooter sounded with the Giants running out 3-1 victors, Rob Stewart picking up Man Of The Match on his 40th birthday despite another multi point game from Theo Fleury. Next up is the Planet Ice British Knockout Cup game this Wednesday against Coventry, possibly a welcome distraction for the league title chase.

More News

Live Scores

League Standings

full table >>

Giants' Stat Leaders

Site Search