The Devil's in the Detail

The Coors Belfast Giants had a weekend of highs and lows. Ed Courtenay’s side have been lacklustre in this early stage of the season, with only one win on the board against the Edinburgh Capitals, and with Courtenay’s promise of personnel changes, a number of players were playing for their jobs.

Following their defeat last week to the Nottingham Panthers, it was the East Midland’s team who made the return trip to Northern Ireland for a Challenge Cup game on Friday night. In the intervening days the Panthers have released Jim Shepherd following his 8 game suspension for the spear to the face of Mark Dutiaume. The Giants were unable to gain their own retribution however, losing 4-3. This was their second loss in the Challenge Cup competition, the cup proving once again to be as elusive to the giants as it has been in previous seasons.

There was light at the end of the tunnel however. With rumours rife about departures from the Giants dressing room, the Belfast side notched up only their second win, but their first away from home.

The Edinburgh Capitals fell foul of an Ed Courtenay double and a Phillipe DeRouville Shut-out as the Giants won 5-0 at the Murrayfield rink. (other scores being Leigh Jamieson, Ryan Smith and Mark Dutiaume)

Giants fans tonight head to the Odyssey Arena for the fist home match up with the Cardiff Devills, hoping that momentum has finally turned in their favour.

Languishing below Belfast in 10th place, Gerard Adam’s side have had a tough time of things since hammering the Giants in the Challenge Cup last month. This week alone has seen the departure of the under-performing Sylvain Deschatelets, his temporary replacement being former Giants player Shane Johnson,

With losses to Edinburgh, Hull, Coventry and most recently to Nottingham in the Challenge Cup, the Devils will be on a similar footing to the home side come this evening, holding aspirations of regaining winning form.

Tonight’s Game faces off at 7.30pm

If you can’t get to the match, coverage, as always, is available at ih-update. And tonight see’s the return of the Live Text commentary… Coverage begins in earnest at 6.30pm.

Patrick Smyth

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