Kingdom Of The Giants :: Belfast Giants Fan Community, News & Views
Bird Flu?
01-Feb-2007The Coors Belfast Giants are going to have to dig deeper than ever if their efforts to win back-to-back championships are to succeed. After yet another defeat at the hands of the visiting Manchester Phoenix, it appears that the Giants are trying to gift the title to arch-rivals Coventry Blaze.
Tonights game started much better than the previous encounter, with the Giants managing to not concede any goals in the first two minutes. And after 8 minutes of pressure the Giants finally found a way through the Manchester defence and past their oustanding netminder Wolfe. Curtis Huppe finding the net with assists going to Mark Dutiaume and Jason Ruff.
Unfortunately the Giants could not capitalise on the pressure, and the Phoenix regained their composure, tying the game midway through the second. Vychodil (sounds like a medicine, doesn't it?) and Molin combining to set up Tony Hand to score a rare goal. The goal seemed to knock any kind of belief out of the Giants and Manchester began to gain some momentum of their own.
In spite of numerous penalties to both sides there were no more goals in the second period. The third period saw yet more penalties with neither team capable of making a breakthrough. However, with the clock ticking down in the third period, and the game seemingly destined for overtime, Manchester Phoenix stole the winner, as Molin surged forward in on Minard, received a cross-ice pass and nipped the puck over his outstretched leg. Although the Giants were given a man advantage for the last two minutes, there was to be no tying goal.
Where do the Giants go from here? The team will really have to lift themselves, and each other, to try to find that early season form that saw them race to the lead in the league title chase. Whether that is possible or not, given the gut-wrenching inconsistency, is a topic that will be debated until it is mathematically impossible for the title to be retained.
We can only hope that they manage to overcome a much improved Hull Stingrays side, this Saturday evening at the Odyssey. Face-off 7pm.
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- Sat 07 Apr
- vs Devils, OTL 4-3
- Giants Goals: Rebek, Clarke, Hoffman
- Devils Goals: Matzka, Dobben, Piggot
League Standings
| P | TEAM | GP | W(OT) | L(OT) | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giants | 54 | 46(0) | 5(3) | 95 |
| 2 | Steelers | 54 | 41(0) | 11(2) | 84 |
| 3 | Panthers | 54 | 38(0) | 12(4) | 80 |
| 4 | Devils | 54 | 32(0) | 12(10) | 74 |
| 5 | Blaze | 54 | 32(0) | 20(2) | 66 |
| 6 | Clan | 54 | 31(0) | 19(4) | 66 |
| 7 | Stingrays | 54 | 16(0) | 34(4) | 36 |
| 8 | Stars | 54 | 13(0) | 35(6) | 32 |
| 9 | Capitals | 54 | 13(0) | 37(4) | 30 |
| 10 | Flyers | 54 | 8(0) | 40(6) | 22 |
Giants' Stat Leaders
| Points | Robert Dowd | 78 |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Robert Dowd | 40 |
| Assists | Craig Peacock | 49 |
| PIM | Adam Keefe | 247 |