Kingdom Of The Giants :: Belfast Giants Fan Community, News & Views
Can the Giants Douse the Blaze?
13-Jan-2012After a busy winter schedule in which the Belfast Giants picked up a solid six wins in seven games despite playing short handed through injury and suspension – the only loss being an ugly 4:1 defeat at the Odyssey to the Braehead Clan who had been vanquished the night before in Braehead – the Giants enter the new year still on top of the EIHL standings.
With one game in hand, the Giants stand 3 points clear of the 2nd placed Nottingham Panthers. However, still looming ominously in the shadows are the perennial title challenging Sheffield Steelers. Despite a couple of blips in their festive battles with Nottingham, the Steelers remain dangerous, as shown by winning 3 games in 3 nights on the road last weekend.
This weekend sees Belfast welcome the Coventry Blaze to the Odyssey for a double-header of games to round out the required three home games for Belfast against the Blaze. In the only previous game at the Odyssey Coventry, then on a run of poor form came in and claimed a shut out 3:0 win on the back of some tough play from former Giant David Phillips. While the Giants have claimed a win and a shoot out loss in Coventry, games between these sides always remain close and this weekend promises to be no exception.
Making a welcome return to the Giants roster is the top goal scorer scorer from the 2008/09 season Paul Deniset. Having left the Giants to play in Denmark and France, Deniset was in partial retirement before answering the call to replace the departed Brock McBride and Benoit Doucet.
Having ground out wins over the tough Christmas period to remain in the title chase, now is the time that every point becomes just that little more precious.
Aaron Kernohan
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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 |