Giants down in Flames

After a season's hiatus due to limited arena time, the Challenge Cup once again returns to the Odyssey Arena as the Coors Belfast Giants take on the Manchester Phoenix in the second leg of their qualifier. It's all or nothing for the Giants as the previous encounter seen them take a draw away from the Phoenix at IceSheffield. Coach Ed Courtenay will be hoping that this team's form of late, tending to leave it to a last minute show, improves, driving them to the next phase of the competition.

Moray Hanson took charge of his third Giants game in a row where the Phoenix started with a short bench due to the loss of Ryan Watson last week, and week by week replacement Matt Beveridge, recently released by the Mobilx Vipers, being unavailable.

The game started brightly for the home team with Marc Levers striking the pipes in under five minutes. However it was the Phoenix who struck first. With GM-in-waiting Todd Kelman serving 2 minutes for hooking, Simon Mangos shot from the hashmarks made it through traffic and into the back of Mike Minards net. 1-0 on 5.53.

The visitors doubled their advantage 5 minutes later, a terrible mistake from Mike Minard on a shot from Scott Basiuk on the left wing. Minard saw the puck bounce 3 feet in front of him and into the back of the goal.

The second period begun with renewed Giants pressure, Mark Dutiaume and Jeff Hutchins coming close to putting the Giants on the scoresheet. But it was Jason Ruff who notched up his 199th point in a Giants shirt, slotting the puck through the five-hole of Jason Wolfe in the Manchester goal.

Minutes later the Giants came close to leveling the sides. With Levers serving 2 minutes for elbowing Awada took the puck for the short-handed giants, around the back of the Phoenix goal, skating out he fed it to Hutchins in front, but Hutchins shot was saved by Wolfe and the middle period finished 2-1 in favor of the visitors.

The final session started in a flourish for the Manchester Phoenix, hitting the Giants goal with heavy pressure. Referee Hanson seemed reluctant to raise his hand despite players calls for what they considered to be blatant penalties.

Mid-period it was the Giants 3rd line that started to kick in to gear showing up the rest of the team with some spectacular hockey, however they were unable to put away the equalizing goal. A few minutes later a bad hit from behind on Giants captain George Awada from David Vychodil, gets the tempers up , however the officials were quick to intervene as Shawn Skihar and J.P. Morin went looking for retribution. Vychodil was sent to the box for boarding and in the resulting powerplay a shot from Jeff Hutchins was cleared off the line having beaten Jason Wolfe. Once again the Giants hit their stride in the 3rd period, a recurring story this season

Despite heavy Giants pressure there was no sign of an equalizing goal, and with under 2 minutes left Mark Dutiiaume was called for slashing Wolfe, a close call and one the Giants crowd didn’t like given Hansons lenient nature all game.

Mike Minard was pulled with 1.26 left for the extra attacker, however Johan Molin fired the Phoenix into the next stage of the Challenge cup with an empty net goal

Next on the schedule are the Sheffield Steelers. A team whom the Giants have come back twice from 4-1 deficits to win 6-5 in over time. The Steelers also today acquired former Giants captain Shane Johnson from the Slough Jets. His coach, another former Giant, Dave Matsos, will be hoping that his team can travel to Belfast and hold any lead they can achieve without capitulating in spectacular fashion.. again.

Ed Courtenay however will be hoping his Belfast Giants side can bounce back from this home defeat and extend their lead at the top of the Elite Ice Hockey League

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