Giants hoping to get back on roll after mixed weekend

Player-coach Derrick Walser is hoping his Belfast Giants are back to winning ways after mixed fortunes in their double-header weekend at home against the Coventry Blaze.

The defenceman was left frustrated by the side’s efforts on Friday, when they lost out 2-1 in the first of their encounters with Danny Stewart’s Coventry Blaze.

However, there was a definite change of pace on Saturday and the Giants came away from that game with a 4-1 victory.

While the Blaze scored the opening goal, Jeff Mason’s equaliser turned things around.

“Mase has been playing fantastic for us,” Walser said.

“It’s nice to see him get the goal and you could see, once it went in, the energy on the bench and in the building.”

Meanwhile, Matt Nickerson was among the players caught up in some of the game’s most fiery moments, dropping the gloves at centre-ice against the Blaze’s Garrett Klotz.

He predicts that will set the tone for future clashes between the Belfast and Coventry sides.

“At least we’re back to winning ways and playing well, that’s the good thing,” Nickerson added.

The Giants moved up into third place in the Elite League standings on Saturday, although the Sheffield Steelers then bumped them into fourth with their win over the Fife Flyers on Sunday.

The Belfast side also had their spot at the top of the Challenge Cup Group A table confirmed over the weekend, after the Dundee Stars lost out in overtime against the Braehead Clan.