The Belfast Giants had a varying weekend. With a game looming against the Nottingham Panthers for a chance in the Challenge Cup, the Giants hosted a BNL team at the Odyssey for the first time in the clubs history, as part of the new cross over National Cup competition.
The Edinburgh Capitals however were given a heartfelt â??Welcome To Belfastâ?? with two goals scored against them in the first two minutes. A Nasval hat-trick in the first period was the start of what was a 8-1 hammering of the new visitors. However it could have been a whole lot more. And a special note has to go to netminder Chris McGimpsey, who was 47 seconds shy of a shut-out on his starting debut for the Giants.
So with the goal scoring confidence of the previous night, the Giants made their way on Sunday night to visit Dave Whistleâ??s Cardiff Devils. However they were brought back to earth with more than a bump. The Elite League team proving more of a challenge the BNL side the previous night.
Former Giant Dave â??Clarke Kentâ?? Matsos was amongst the Cardiff goal-scorers as they thumped the Giants 5-0. A severe reality check for Coach Tony Hand and Assistant Coach Curt Bowen, who was quoted in the weekend press that anything less than 4 points from 4 from the two Elite League matches this week would be a disappointment.
The Giants now travel to the NIC to face the Panthers and regain an advantage in the tight race for the Challenge Cup, before returning to Belfast on Saturday to face another BNL team, this time a team well known to Tony Hand, his former charges the Dundee Stars.
| 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 |
| Points | Robert Dowd | 78 |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Robert Dowd | 40 |
| Assists | Craig Peacock | 49 |
| PIM | Adam Keefe | 247 |