A Tale of Two Goalies

The Belfast Giants prevailed at the Odyssey against a competitive Edinburgh Capitals side, but not without a few heart stopping moments in the final few seconds of a tight encounter.

Early on the Giants were by far the dominant team, with some slick inter passing creating opening after opening on the Capitals net, but Edinburgh Man of the Match Michel Robinson was up to the task, flailing around and stopping everything that came his way.

Shane Johnson was denied a goal, rightly adjudged to be stood in the crease when he deflected home Mark Morrison's centring pass, and, as is often the case in these situations, there was almost an air of inevitability when the Capitals broke down the ice after withstanding all the pressure in their own end. Some quick cycling behind Stevie Lyle's goal got the puck to Adam Stefishen on the point whose shot was re-directed by Mark Hurtubise giving Lyle no hope and the visitors an unlikely lead at 13.15.

The Giants response was swift and decisive. Gaining a face-off in the Capitals zone, Paul Deniset took a shot straight from the draw, Robinson stuck out a left pad, but could only succeed to kicking the puck out to newly re-appointed captain George Awada who slammed the puck home from close range. Colin Shields doubled the Giants tally before the end of the first finishing a fantastic flowing move involving Mike Burgoyne and Evan Cheverie with the puck being moved at speed from defense to offense before being slid across ice by Burgoyne to allow Shields to hammer it home at the back post.

The second period was a similar story to the first - much Giants passing, movement and pressure but with Robinson equal to it, he kept his side in the game. Again the Capitals took advantage of their goalie's great work and managed to tie the game up once more at 37.24 after a terrible blunder by Lyle. Playing the puck behind his net, Lyle could only play it round the boards to the advancing Capital Mark Paterson. Paterson found Cingel who beat the now out of position Lyle to make it 2-2.

Early in the third period Bobby Robins, who was having an otherwise quiet game, decided to try and spark his team into action. Taking exception to a facewash, he and Taylor Christie came together, gloves came off, but before anything could get going Adam Stefishen intervened, receiving the gate for his troubles as 3rd man in. Within minutes Robins attempts were vindicated and Paul Deniset beat Michel Robinson once more at 43.14 after some great work by the impressive Graeme Walton.

The Giants special teams which have been so impressive in this young season once more showed their class, when Steve Thornton - playing due to an appeal lodged against his 9 game ban - collected the puck in the Giants zone and broke up the ice short handed. He and Giants MoM Shane Johnson worked a 2 on 1, Thornton skated in, drew Robinson out of position before firing the pass to Shane Johnson who couldn't miss the empty net after Thornton's great work.

This goal was to prove crucial as the Capitals fought back once more, player coach Doug Christiansen forcing the puck home from close ranget to make it 4-3 with just under 5 minutes remaining, another one Lyle may not have been happy to let slip by.

Twice in the final few minutes and with the goalie pulled the Capitals forced Stevie Lyle into some great, and lucky, saves. But when it came to it, he stood up to the onslaught allowing the Giants to claim yet another early season victory. The game was made much closer than perhaps expected by the relative fortunes of the two goalies with Robinson seeing 52 shots and Lyle just the 18 in a trend the Giants have seen a lot this year, vastly outshooting opponents.

Aaron Kernohan

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